Apple and Google Agree to Settle Smartphone Patent Litigation

Reuters reports Apple and Google’s Motorola Mobility arm have agreed to settle their ongoing patent litigation:

Apple Inc and Google Inc’s Motorola Mobility unit have agreed to settle all patent litigation between them over smartphone technology, ending one of the highest profile lawsuits in technology.

In a joint statement on Friday, the companies said the settlement does not include a cross license to their respective patents.

“Apple and Google have also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform,” the statement said.

Both companies agreed to end their cases according to filings Friday sent to a federal appeals court in Washington. No cross licensing is part of the settlement.

Back in 2012, Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion for its patents. Earlier this year, Google sold the hardware side of Motorola Mobility to Lenovo for $2.91 billion.

Both companies have been engaged in high profile patent lawsuits going back and forth around courts worldwide. Back in January of this year, Apple won an appeal against Motorola, upholding an ITC ruling from a year ago.

..more to come