Microsoft, called the Vole by some and a green-tentacled octopus from over-the-hill by a certain Yahoo shareholder, has decided it'd be a wonderful idea to license a few patents to Japanese electronics firm Pioneer, which in turn will let the vole's sweaty, beady and greedy paws (or tentacles) grab and use a few it doesn't own in exchange.

Apparently, the cross-licensing deal "will expand technological innovation to enhance the overall customer experience". That is corporate euphemised lingo for "more products to suck punters money out of their wallets". Pioneer and Microsoft kept all saucy details under wraps, however it was admitted that Pioneer is compensating the Vole.

The cross-licensing deal will cover various products from tellies to car navigation. Microsoft previously struck similar deals for car navigation patents with Kenwood and Alpine Electronics. "These types of agreements extend collaboration and innovation in the automotive field by allowing us to help our partners deliver groundbreaking in-vehicle technologies and product enhancements," wrote a flack for Velle Kolde, a henchman at Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit.  X