Samsung and Google announced that they signed global patent cross-licensing agreements. The deal covers existing patents and patents filed by both companies for 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.”
While this is a good move, it’s still a little weird for both companies from a competition prescriptive. Google owns the Android operating system which runs on Samsung devices, that directly compete with Google’s own Motorola Mobility which manufactures the Nexus line. Samsung is also working on Tizen which will shift the company’s focus away from Android in the future.
“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.”
