The agreement covers the two companies’ existing patents as well as those filed over the next 10 years.
“By working together on agreements like this, companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation,” said Allen Lo (right), deputy general counsel for patents at Google.
Under the agreement, Samsung and Google gain access to each other’s patent portfolios. The companies believe this will allow for deeper collaboration on research and development of products and technologies.
“This agreement with Google is highly significant for the technology industry,” said Seungho Ahn, 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.”