Windows 7: Microsoft’s Patent Portfolio Dwarfs Rivals’ IP.

A strong and committed strategy of investments is paying off for Microsoft which is outpacing rivals in the race to build innovation by a landslide. The Redmond company’s patent portfolio topped, for the third year in a row, a ranking put together by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). And software giant is showing no signs of stopping. As a matter of fact, for 2010, Microsoft pledged no less than $9.5 billion to fuel its research and development efforts. It looks like the company is getting rather cozy at the top of IEEE’s, having settled in, and is not keen on leaving the position anytime soon.