Samsung, Google Sign Global Patent License Agreement
Google and Samsung are now sharing patents with each other.
Samsung announced that it has signed a global patent cross-license deal with Google that is expected to strengthen their long-term cooperative partnership. The agreement will cover a "broad" range of technologies and business areas, their existing patents, and those that will be filed over the next ten 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."
Thanks to the new agreement, Samsung and Google will now have access to each others' patent portfolios. This will provide a "deeper" collaboration regarding research and development of current and future products and technologies. However, neither company will "own" the other’s patents, meaning Samsung can't use Google's patents against Apple in court.
Unfortunately, Samsung and Google did not provide any financial information, terms, or what patents and technology the blanket agreement covers. However, the deal will likely increase Samsung's chances of participating in Google's key projects as a hardware partner.
Currently, Samsung, the maker of Android-based Galaxy devices, remains locked in a patent dispute with Apple. The latest episode will see the two CEOs try to make a settlement by February 19. The two companies have been tangled up in the dispute for several years, with the next trial beginning on March 31 regarding Samsung's Galaxy S3 and Apple's iPhone 5.
"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 news seemingly dispels speculation that due to Samsung developing its own operating system, Tizen, and Google selling Android phones through Motorola, the relationship between the two companies is growing sour.
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Speaking of Tizen, an unnamed official reports that Samsung is delaying the mobile platform again. Originally, Tizen-based devices were scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2013, and then they were pushed back into the first half of 2014. Unfortunately, the official did not state why the new operating system was delayed and when the platform is expected to arrive.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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catfishtx With news that Google is not going to make phones anymore, this makes sense. Its good to know at least some companies would rather work together than endlessly fight in court over vague patents.Also, an S3 and iP5 are not remotely similiar. How can one infringe on the other?Reply -
DarkSable You realize that news is an absolute rumor, right? And it's also absolutely wrong to say they aren't making phones anymore - they still own Motorola... and there's no reason for them to kill off the wildly successful Nexus branding just as it's getting more and more popular.As for the phones infringing on each other, have you seem some of these "patented innovations"... like a phone that has round corners?Reply -
JD88 This is great news. My guess is that Samsung decided Tizen wasn't worth it or wasn't ready and is cuddled back up to Google. This also meshes with the recent news about Samsung dropping Windows based PCs. Ideally this will help protect both companies from patent trolls like Apple.Reply -
w8gaming In other news, Samsung has already given up Tizen as far as mobile phone OS is concerned. Tizen will only be used in non-phone devices instead.Reply -
therealduckofdeath Tizen has never been a priority for Samsung. Tizen is just the latest name for their development platform, which Samsung has been working with for around ten years.Reply -
bejabbers Reply12557036 said:You realize that news is an absolute rumor, right? And it's also absolutely wrong to say they aren't making phones anymore - they still own Motorola... and there's no reason for them to kill off the wildly successful Nexus branding just as it's getting more and more popular.As for the phones infringing on each other, have you seem some of these "patented innovations"... like a phone that has round corners?
Google doesn't own Motorola... anymore.
http://mobilesyrup.com/2014/01/29/lenovo-to-buy-motorola-for-3-billion/