Google and Samsung strengthen ties with global patent deal
The two companies have largely been on the same side in the patent wars
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Google and Samsung have strengthened their alliance by signing a deal to license one another’s patents.
The agreement will cover a “broad range of technologies and business areas” but will focus on the mobile sector, allowing the pair to turn their attention to Apple in the global patent wars.
The deal will cover unspecified intellectual property that has currently been registered as well as new patents created over the next ten years.
Smartphone makers regularly file billion-dollar lawsuits against rival manufacturers over alleged patent infringements.
Apple is currently claiming that Samsung’s best-selling line of Galaxy smartphones have copied many of the iPhone’s features. The pair are scheduled to meet for mediation in mid-February, although many similar meetings have failed in the past.
Samsung has long worked closely with Google, using the Android operating system on its smartphones, and called the deal "highly significant for the technology industry".
"Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from co-operating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes," said Seungho Ahn, head of Samsung's Intellectual Property Center, in a statement.
Google deputy general counsel Allen Lo also welcomed the deal. “By working together on agreements like this, companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation,” said Lo in a statement.
A recent high-profile case in the patent wars involves the Rockstar consortium – a group of companies including Apple, Microsoft and Sony that paid $4.5 billion for a set of patents from the now-defunct Nortel telecoms company.
The consortium filed eight lawsuits in the US against Google and six other smartphone makers that use the Android operating system. Google is engaged in its own litigation against Apple with the use of patents owned by Motorola Mobility. Google bought the company in 2012 for $12.5bn.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments