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21 December 2015Patents

Ericsson and Apple agree patent ceasefire

Technology companies Ericsson and Apple have agreed to settle all outstanding patent litigation.

In an announcement today, D ecember 21, both parties said they have inked a global cross-licensing agreement that covers standard-essential patents (SEP) owned by Ericsson and Apple and “certain other patent rights”.

Further details of the agreement were not disclosed, but both parties confirmed the deal will last for seven years.

Kasim Alfalahi, chief intellectual property officer at Ericsson, said: “We are pleased with the agreement with Apple, which clears the way for both companies to continue to focus on bringing new technology to global market, and opens up for more joint business opportunities in the future.”

The agreement brings to a close US-based disputes at the International Trade Commission, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and the US District Court for the Northern District of California and rows previously heard in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands.

Both parties will also embark on projects developing the 5G cellular technology and improving existing wireless connections in smartphones.

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