Microsoft and Google reach sweeping settlement in longstanding patent suits

The patents covered a bunch of varying technologies, including those uses in smartphones, Wi-Fi connectivity, Microsoft‘s Xbox console, and more.

The accord also drops all litigation involving Motorola Mobility, which Google sold to Lenovo a year ago while keeping its patents.

The original patent arguments stemmed from video compression and wireless technology that was implemented on the Xbox, plus a string of issues relating to Google’s acquisition of Motorola back in 2011.

Yet, as Google and Microsoft continue to create products which compete with each other, including mobile computing devices and search engines like google, the deal notably will not preclude any future infringement suits, a Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed.

For instance HTC in April 2010 agreed to pay patent royalties to Microsoft on every single Android-based phone that it ships.

According to the sources, related litigation included a breach of contract case in which Microsoft successfully argued that Motorola went too far when it asked for $4 billion in attempting to license patents that were essential to various standards.

The Verge reports that the partnership between Google and Microsoft is underway. Likewise, Microsoft tried to block Motorola mobile phones.

Details of the deal were not shared, but in a joint statement the firms said they would “collaborate on certain patent matters”. Going forward Microsoft and Google have pledged to work together to collaborate on patent matters and for the overall benefit of customers. The companies were also involved in court disputes in Germany over a German patent regarding a standard for video encoding.

Additionally Google and Microsoft, as well as a whole bevy of other tech companies, are working on a project called the Alliance for Open Media. A year ago Apple and Samsung settled their non-US patent cases.

A few might take today’s announcement as a sign that Microsoft is going to ease off on its patent claims in future, which would fit with CEO Satya Nadella’s claim that he wants Microsoft to be “Silicon Valley’s best friend”.