Apple and Google end mutual patent infringement lawsuits

Apple and Google have agreed to drop lawsuits filed against each other for patent infringement. This puts an end to long-drawn-out lawsuits between the two parties.

Reuters reports this on the basis of a statement released by both companies. In it, Apple and Google indicate that they will drop all lawsuits related to smartphone technology against each other. The two companies also want to cooperate in some areas when it comes to reforming the patent system. It is not clear what exactly this means. Despite the cessation of the lawsuits, no mutual licenses have been concluded for the use of each other’s patents.

Many lawsuits filed by Apple against Google were filed through its subsidiary Motorola. The lawsuits mainly concerned infringement of patents describing technology for mobile devices. Both Apple and Motorola have tried to enforce a sales ban on each other’s products, but despite some court decisions, this did not lead to far-reaching consequences.

Apple is still in a legal battle with Samsung, in which it is more successful. A judge previously ruled that the Korean manufacturer had to pay damages of approximately 437 million euros and recently a provisional compensation of 86 million euros was added. Incidentally, in the latter lawsuit, the jury indicated that Apple should not aim its legal arrows at Samsung, but at Google. So that doesn’t seem to be happening.