Global patent agreement reached by Samsung and Google

posted by Alan F. / Jan 26, 2014, 4:44 PM

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

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18 Comments

1. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 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 Jan 26, 2014, 5:05 PM 0

2. g2a5b0e unregistered

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 Jan 26, 2014, 5:07 PM 11

4. Ant34

Posts: 193; Member since: Aug 10, 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 Jan 26, 2014, 6:13 PM 0

6. nokia12

Posts: 610; Member since: Nov 19, 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 Jan 26, 2014, 6:45 PM 1

16. DnB925Art

Posts: 1167; Member since: May 23, 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 Jan 27, 2014, 1:51 AM 0

3. tedkord

Posts: 17094; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

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

posted on Jan 26, 2014, 5:46 PM 5

8. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

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

posted on Jan 26, 2014, 8:55 PM 1

5. mr.techdude

Posts: 571; Member since: Nov 19, 2012

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

posted on Jan 26, 2014, 6:32 PM 1

7. VZWuser76

Posts: 4974; Member since: Mar 04, 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 Jan 26, 2014, 8:27 PM 4

17. tedkord

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 Jan 27, 2014, 7:22 AM 0

18. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 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 Jan 28, 2014, 10:45 AM 0

9. REXTECH

Posts: 15; Member since: Dec 04, 2013

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

posted on Jan 26, 2014, 9:22 PM 0

13. Wiki_jaan

Posts: 704; Member since: Jun 24, 2012

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

posted on Jan 26, 2014, 11:36 PM 0

14. Augustine

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.