Global patent agreement reached by Samsung and Google

Sunday afternoon, Samsung announced that it had reached a global cross-licensing agreement. But instead of this covering the Korean manufacturer's arch rival Apple, the agreement covers patents owned by Samsung and Google. The deal covers the current patent portfolio owned by both firms, as well as any new patents received by either company over the next five years.

For those who were afraid that Samsung was gradually breaking away from Google and its open source Android OS, both parties said that the pact "would lead to deeper collaboration on research and development of current and future projects." In a statement surely intended for Apple's ears, Samsung's top patent executive, Seungho Ahn, said that the agreement shows that it is better to cooperate than to engage in patent disputes. Samsung and Apple are expected to kick off their next patent trial in March although both sides are said to be discussing a settlement.

Financial terms of the deal between Samsung and Google were not released.

"By working together on agreements like this, companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation."-Allen Lo, deputy general counsel for patents, Google

"(The deal shows) the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from cooperating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes."-Seungho Ahn, Head of Intellectual Property, Samsung

source: Reuters

18 Comments

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posted on 26 Jan 2014, 17:05

1. jroc74 (Posts: 6019; Member since: 30 Dec 2010)

I'm sure cross licensing deals can be worked out for anyone.

The things is....is it something both parties can agree on. If not...

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 17:07 11

2. g2a5b0e (Posts: 3746; Member since: 08 Jun 2012)

Perhaps this will silence all those folks who seem to think Samsung plans on breaking away from Android with Tizen. The fact that they're experimenting with other things doesn't mean they'd just leave their cash cow. Doesn't make any business sense whatsoever.

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 18:13

4. Ant34 (Posts: 193; Member since: 10 Aug 2013)

They won't be moving from Android anytime soon but I do expect them to start releasing Tizen phones along side their Android line up.

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 18:45 1

6. nokia12 (Posts: 579; Member since: 19 Nov 2013)

that's what they want you or world to believe..they won't make the same mistake as Nokia did with "BURNING PLATFORM" .. instead they will grow it slowly and steadily... and it is right as well what if google becomes like apple tomorrow imposing more limitations and fees nobody will like that .. tizen will at least keep google from doing that ... No one likes monopoly neither consumers nor manufacturers that is the reason
Samsung,intel,nokia,ebay,panasonic,sharp,kodak,adobe,mcafee, and more than other 30 companies have become partners in the project..

they are already earning way too much cash now from android, but the decline will come maybe not now maybe after 3 or 5 or 7 years .. a company has to be prepared

they all will try to make Tizen the second Platform of choice (excluding iOS )

announcing abandonment of google now can only be done by 1 man
"Eflop" lol..

posted on 27 Jan 2014, 01:51

16. DnB925Art (Posts: 1057; Member since: 23 May 2013)

Samsung is the type of company that covers ALL the bases. The cover every price range, from low end models to flagship models. The cover just about every size, and now they will cover different OSes (they already do Android, Tizen, and Windows Phone). I don't know why people thought they would break away from Android with Tizen since they were already making Windows Phone as well.

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 17:46 5

3. tedkord (Posts: 13487; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

Nobody was afraid Samsung was breaking away from Samsung. Just some fanboys were desperately hoping they would.

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 20:55 1

8. PapaSmurf (Posts: 10457; Member since: 14 May 2012)

Google*

Samsung makes billions alone off Android. Don't plan on them ditching their cash crop anytime soon.

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 18:32 1

5. mr.techdude (Posts: 571; Member since: 19 Nov 2012)

Didn't HTC and apple settle for 10 years agreement? Cant Sam and apple do the same

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 20:27 4

7. VZWuser76 (Posts: 4731; Member since: 04 Mar 2010)

The reason Apple was willing to settle with them is that HTC currently isn't a threat to them. Right now Samsung is the only android OEM that by themselves is a threat to Apple. Apple would only be comfortable if they had a majority of mobile sales, leaving the scraps for the rest. That would be the only time you'll see an end to these lawsuits. If WP ever gained some significant traction and ends up as the number 2 competitor, I guarantee Apple will go after them as they have with Android OEMS. Right now it's in both their best interests to work together and go after the new guy. But if they were to succeed, all bets would be off.

posted on 27 Jan 2014, 07:22

17. tedkord (Posts: 13487; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

The reason Apple settled with HTC (besides what you said) was access to their LTE patents. Samsung has a number of LTE patents which are not FRAND, and Apple was worried.

That's why Samsung needs to buy HTC. That will invalidate Apples agreement with HTC, and they will have leverage to end the patent wars and force a settlement.

posted on 28 Jan 2014, 10:45

18. Augustine (Posts: 1043; Member since: 28 Sep 2013)

I'd count on the agreement with HTC to include a clause that it'd remain in force in case either company is acquired.

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 21:22

9. REXTECH (Posts: 15; Member since: 04 Dec 2013)

Does it mean that app developers will start making Linux based apps?

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 23:36

13. Wiki_jaan (Posts: 704; Member since: 24 Jun 2012)

10 more years of galaxies ............ lol

posted on 26 Jan 2014, 23:44

14. Augustine (Posts: 1043; Member since: 28 Sep 2013)

It's very similar to the agreement between AMD and Intel, which sued each other interminably in the 90s. Once they agreed on terms that only very few people in the respective companies know, they just arm-wrestle each other in private every decade or so to renew it.

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