Is Google-Samsung Licensing a Big Event?

Deal is more like a "NAFTA treaty"
Junko Yoshida, EETimes
1/28/2014 08:05 AM EST

MADISON, Wis. — Samsung Electronics pulled off two big patent-licensing agreements over the last 48 hours: one with Google on a broad agreement to cross-license each other's patents; another with Ericsson, putting an end to the ongoing battle with the Swedish telecom giant. Samsung, which had been accused of infringing Ericsson's broad range of patents including LTE, has now agreed to pay Ericsson $650 million in compensation and royalty payments thereafter.

While the two separate licensing deals are very different, these Samsung moves signal the company's eagerness to get back into the business of innovation, rather than getting stuck in the downward spiral of competition-by-lawsuit.

Is the mobile industry suddenly seeing the wisdom of "patent peace"?

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