Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) (KRX:005935) inked a global patent cross-licensing agreement covering a wide-range of technologies and business areas, according to a press statement on Sunday.
The global cross-licensing agreement between the search engine giant and South Korean electronics manufacturer covers the existing patents owned by both companies and those the will be filed over the next ten years.
With the agreement Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) (KRX:005935) will be able access each other’s leading patent portfolios in the industry. The deal will also lead both companies to work together deeper on research and development on current and future products and technologies.
Allen Lo, deputy general counsel for patents at Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) said, “We’re pleased to enter into a cross-license with our partner Samsung. By working together on agreements like this, companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation.”
On the other hand, Dr. Seungho Ahn, head of Intellectual Property Center at Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) (KRX:005935) 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.”
The search engine and the South Korean electronics manufacturer had been long-time partners particularly in smartphones and tablets. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) (KRX:005935) uses the Android operating system of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) in developing its mobile devices.
Meanwhile, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) won a case against Beneficial Innovations Inc for violating its settlement agreement with the search engine giant by filing a lawsuit against its customers.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) demanded on $1 for damages, but its priority in the case was to clarify that its customers using DoubleClick advertising product were covered by its patent license agreement with Beneficial Innovations.
Commenting on the decision of the federal jury, Google’s spokesperson, Matt Kallman said, “Beneficial went back on the terms of its own license agreement, pursuing our customers for simply using our licensed services. This is a great outcome that the jury worked hard to get right.”
