No, that's no mistake: Microsoft and HTC on Tuesday jointly announced a patent deal that will provide "broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for HTC's mobile phones running the Android mobile platform."

No, that's no mistake: Microsoft and HTC on Tuesday jointly announced a patent deal that will provide "broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for HTC's mobile phones running the Android mobile platform."

The companies aren't releasing a whole lot about the deal, save for the fact that "HTC will pay Microsoft an undisclosed sum for these IP [intellectual property] rights."

The announcement comes in the wake of a massive patent suit from Apple, which alleged 20 instances of patent infringement on the part of HTC. And Microsoft, of course, doesn't own the patents surrounding the Android operating system, which was designed by Google. The implication, of course, is that Microsoft convinced HTC that Microsoft's patents could intersect the Android technology.

A statement issued today by Microsoft makes a big point to strike a very different tone.

"HTC and Microsoft have a long history of technical and commercial collaboration, and today's agreement is an example of how industry leaders can reach commercial arrangements that address intellectual property," Microsoft IP corporate vice president Horacio Gutierrez said in a statement. "We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HTC."

Beneath that rhetoric of unity, however, is an implication that, given the chance, Microsoft may go after other Android handset manufacturers who infringe on its IP.

Originally posted to Gearlog.