Samsung and Google sign important agreement

Samsung Electronics Co. ltd has announced that it had signed an agreement with Google Inc. that involves global cross-license patents. This agreement covers both companies’ existing patents and those filed over the next 10 years.

“We’re pleased to enter into a cross-license with our partner Samsung,” said Allen Lo, Deputy General Counsel for Patents at Google. “By working together on agreements like this, companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation.”

Samsung's flagship galaxy S4 which runs on android

“This agreement with Google is highly significant for the technology industry,” said Dr. Seungho Ahn, the Head of Samsung’s Intellectual Property Center. “Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from cooperating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes.”

The patent agreement will allow Samsung to use Google’s patents on the most popular smartphone operating system, Android while Google will also have access to Samsung’s patents on its smartphones.

It is believed that Google may use Samsung’s patents in its line of Motorola/Nexus devices while Samsung could also use Android’s patents to develop its Tizen operating system which is still in development.

This deal will furthermore make world’s largest smartphone maker stronger in its unending patent battles with Apple. Both parties are due to be in court on the 31st of March if the settlement talks which will hold on 19th of February fail.

Posted in android, Google, Samsung, Smartphones