Google, Samsung sign 10-year patent sharing partnership

MANILA, Philippines – While the patent infringement battle between Apple and Samsung continues, the South Korean tech giant announced Monday, January 27, that it has signed a long-term cooperative partnership with Google. 

The agreement gives both companies access to each other’s patent portfolios including existing patents and succeeding ones filed over the course of the next 10 years.

Google’s smartphone operating system Android powers Samsung’s line of Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Samsung says the partnership will “pave the way for deeper collaboration on research and development of current and future products and technologies.”

In a subtle hit at Apple, Samsung’s Intellectual Property Center Head Dr. Seungho Ahn said the tech industry will benefit more from working together. “Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from cooperating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes.” 

For Google, the agreement is about innovation. 

Back in 2012, during a visit to Korea, Google CEO Eric Schmidt spoke about the patent war between Samsung and Apple. Schmidt told the Korea times, “Literally patent wars prevent choice, prevent innovation and I think that is very bad.”

During the trip he spoke about a planned meeting with Samsung executives. He called Samsung “one of (Google’s) most important customers.”

Samsung has also existing cross-platform agreements with Microsoft (signed in 2011) and Nokia (expires in 2015). – Rappler.com