When Google snatched up Motorola for a decent $12.5 billion they noted that “Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.”
This acquisition also brought forward all active Motorola lawsuits, including the high profile patent infringement cases between Apple that date back to 2010 and relate to various smartphone related features.
Now several years later with millions of hours and dollars spent in the courtroom, both Apple and Google have agreed to shale hands and drop all pending lawsuits against each other. A joint statement by both companies stated, “Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist directly between the two companies. Apple and Google have also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. The agreement does not include a cross license.”
This is certainly a good move on both parties and it seems they will “work together in some areas of patent reform,” probably to stop all the patent trolls from winning in the courtroom. In addition, Lenovo must be happy with this outcome as they are in the middle of acquiring Motorola Mobility from Google.
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