Google, Microsoft reach agreement on patent issues

Further terms of the agreement were confidential, a Google spokesperson said.

The truce puts an end to courtroom battles involving a variety of technologies, including smartphones, wifi, and video game systems.

Microsoft and Google have settled 18 patent infringement litigation cases against each other after agreeing to bury the hatchet.

Microsoft and Google have agreed to drop their five-year-strong patent lawsuits, and have even hinted that the two companies “anticipate working together” on future projects. “Considering the facts surrounding this litigation, there can be no doubt that this is great for Google and disappointing for Microsoft (though things could always be worse)”.

Google maintained the patents it required on within the unique deal’s majority.

But the firms say they will now “collaborate on certain patent matters” and the legal action is now over. When the company went to Motorola, it countered with demands on Xbox royalties for its use usage of Wi-Fi and video compression techniques.

Microsoft has since made a tidy amount of money from its Android patents, signing agreements with virtually every Android device manufacturer on the globe.

Microsoft filed complaints with the U.S. worldwide Trade Commission and the Western District federal court in Washington in October 2010 alleging that Motorola had infringed upon its smartphone patents. A US appeals court had ruled in July that the low licensing rate the software giant pays to use the patents had been properly set by a federal judge in Seattle. When Google acquired Motorola, the search giant took stewardship of the case. Going forward Microsoft and Google have pledged to work together to collaborate on patent matters and for the overall benefit of customers.

For the past few months, we’ve been reporting on stories and cases where the current leadership within Microsoft is shifting from confrontation to make way for more collaboration. Early this year Microsoft agreed to a similar settlement with Samsung, and this week Apple’s Tim Cook hinted at more cooperation with Microsoft.