Microsoft to Offer Legal Indemnification to Partners

Microsoft Corp. is extending legal protection to personal-computer makers and other partners, the latest step in the company's effort to combat the use of the Linux operating system and what it sees as increasing threats associated with intellectual-property disputes. The Redmond, Wash., software maker will offer legal indemnification to shield partners that distribute Microsoft software from legal costs and damage claims resulting from litigation over patent, trade secrets or other intellectual property.