Samsung has seen its fair share of success in the smartphone world and has risen to claim the title of being the world’s leading handset manufacturer. Much of this success can be attributed to its adoption of Google Android OS, mainly with their flagship Galaxy S family of smartphones, and the Galaxy Note devices.
Samsung has been battling Apple for years over various cases of patent infringement, but today marks a “cooperative partnership” with Google. In a press release, Samsung and Google have decided to work together and have signed a “cross-license agreement” that spans over 10-years where the two companies “gain access to each other’s industry-leading patent portfolios.” The terms of the agreement were not disclosed and the agreement covers a “broad range of technologies and business areas.” Overall, it sounds like Samsung and Google will work in the spirit of advancing technology, rather than hindering its development.
Dr. Seungho Ahn, Head of Samsung’s Intellectual Property Center, said “This agreement with Google is highly significant for the technology industry. Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from cooperating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes.”
Full release is below:
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Google Inc. today furthered their long-term cooperative partnership with a global patent cross-license agreement covering a broad range of technologies and business areas. The mutually beneficial agreement covers the two companies’ existing patents as well as 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.”
With this agreement, Samsung and Google gain access to each other’s industry-leading patent portfolios, paving the way for deeper collaboration on research and development of current and future products and technologies.
“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.”
Source: Samsung Tomorrow
Via: Gigaom
