Report: Apple And Google Call A Truce To Patent Warfare
The white flags are out: Apple and Google have called a truce to their longstanding patent disputes and are expected to instead work together on aspects patent reform, according to a recent report.
As you may remember, when Google purchased handset-maker Motorola Mobility in 2011 the search engine giant inherited a legal dispute with Apple. Cupertino had been at loggerheads with Motorola since 2010 due to patent infringement concerning the following devices: Droid, Droid 2, Droid X, Cliq, Cliq XT, BackFlip, Devour A555, Devour i1, and Charm 1.
Now, however, Apple and Google’s patent warfare is reportedly no more. The surprising news comes from Reuters, which cites a recent court filing indicating that Apple and Google have agreed to a settlement that sees all pending patent litigation between the two companies dismissed.
The companies are also planning on working together “in some areas of patent reform,” Reuters notes, adding:
In a joint statement, the companies said the settlement does not include a cross license to their respective patents. “Apple and Google have also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform,” the statement said.
Most recently, Apple’s ongoing patent dispute against Samsung saw its second major trial conclude. After finding Samsung guilty of infringing on several of Apple’s key patents, a jury awarded the Cupertino, California company damages of almost $120 million.
Samsung, however, is indeed planning on appealing this decision, as we’d expected.
Though the trial’s jury foreman suggested that Apple should instead go after Google in a future patent battle, it now appears that this won’t be the case. We’ll keep you updated with further information as we receive it.
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