Microsoft sued GPS producer TomTom for patent infringement on Wednesday, claiming the Dutch company is using patented Microsoft technology without properly compensating the software giant.

The move comes after a year of trying to engage in licensing talks with TomTom, Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of intellectual property and licensing at Microsoft, said in a statement.

The suit relates to "innovations in car navigation technology, and other computing functionality," Gutierrez said.

"In situations such as this, when a reasonable business agreement cannot be reached, we have no choice but to pursue legal action to protect our innovations and our partners who license them," he continued. "Other companies that utilize Microsoft patents have licensed and we are asking TomTom to do the same."

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and with the International Trade Commission (ITC).

"TomTom is a highly respected and important company," Gutierrez said. "We remain open to quickly resolving this situation with them through an IP licensing agreement."

"As a corporate policy, TomTom Inc. does not comment on legal matters," a TomTom spokesman said in an e-mail.