Israeli technology group Emblaze accused Microsoft of infringing its U.S. patent for media streaming technology, after accusing Apple of the same thing, and offered to license the technology to both.

Emblaze, whose companies include Magic Software and Matrix IT, said on Wednesday Microsoft's IIS Smooth Streaming system and Apple's HTTP Live Streaming Application used its technology.

It said it had notified Microsoft, which had until March 15 to reply, and had previously served a similar notice to Apple.

While we are happy to license our technology to third parties, we will vigorously defend our rights and our competitive position, Emblaze Chairman Naftali Shani said.

Microsoft uses Smooth Streaming to deliver multimedia, graphics and animation including high-definition video via its Silverlight software.

Apple uses HTTP Live Streaming in its iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, as well as its OS X Snow Leopard operating system, Emblaze said in a statement.

(Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Erica Billingham)

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