Friday, 11 May 2007

Microsoft Inks USD 1B Software Deal with Lenovo

Lenovo has reaffirmed its collaboration with Microsoft to promote the use and benefits of validly licensed Microsoft software products through innovative joint sales, marketing and training programmes in China and around the world. “With today’s agreement, Lenovo and Microsoft not...

Lenovo has reaffirmed its collaboration with Microsoft to promote the use and benefits of validly licensed Microsoft software products through innovative joint sales, marketing and training programmes in China and around the world.

“With today’s agreement, Lenovo and Microsoft not only continue their strategic business partnership, we also partner to achieve one of the most important goals of international business: the protection of intellectual property,” said Chen Shaopeng, senior vice president, Lenovo Group and president of Lenovo Greater China. “As a global corporate citizen, Lenovo is deeply committed to the protection of intellectual property. We continue to take the lead by encouraging more businesses and individual users to respect and protect intellectual property as a means of building an innovation-friendly business environment.”

In November 2005, Lenovo took the initiative to launch a value-added software programme in China, becoming the first PC manufacturer to pre-install Microsoft Windows operating systems in all its product lines for the China market. Educational programmes have also been conducted at all Lenovo stores in China to increase consumer awareness of the value of genuine software; understanding of software copyright issues; and features such as system security, privacy protection and virus prevention.

This agreement will further allow customers to enjoy the Windows capabilities they expect, and take advantage of ongoing system improvements that let them do more with their PCs. Lenovo sells pre-installed genuine Microsoft software on its PCs sold in more than 65 countries and regions around the world.

“Since its launch, we have observed how this innovative Lenovo programme is receiving an enthusiastic response from consumers, resellers and business partners alike,” said Tim Chen, corporate vice-president of Microsoft and CEO of Microsoft Greater China Region. “When Lenovo signed an intellectual property rights agreement with Microsoft last year, it marked the commitment to jointly give customers the benefits of more security, stability and an enhanced user experience, while at the same time advocating the protection of intellectual property rights in China. That mutual success has led us to today’s announcement and will support plans for further cooperation.”

Lenovo plans to extend the intellectual property rights programme to other emerging markets.