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Microsoft filed legal action against a number of firms including US book seller Barnes and Noble, claiming patent infringement of Android-based e-readers including the Nook.
"The Android platform infringes a number of Microsoft’s patents, and companies manufacturing and shipping Android devices must respect our intellectual property rights." said Microsoft IP boss Horacio Gutierrez in a statement.
Microsoft pointed to Android smartphone maker HTC as a licensee of the Microsoft intellectual property, saying that they had set up a program for Android device manufactures.
"Their refusals to take licenses leave us no choice but to bring legal action to defend our innovations and fulfill our responsibility to our customers, partners, and shareholders to safeguard the billions of dollars we invest each year to bring great software products and services to market," said Gutierrez
The company has previously highlighted exposure to intellectual property litigation as a risk of smartphone makers adopting Android, one which it hopes to use to scare manufacturers away from the open platform and towards Windows Phone.
Microsoft indemnifies licensees of Windows Phone against IP liabilities.
Tekgoblin has a copy of the filing.
