Engadget is reporting that Samsung and Google have just agreed to license each others patents for the next ten years. Why is this a big deal? Well part of the reason is the rumors of Samsung preparing their own Tizen operating system to compete against Android. Inking this 10 year patent deal pretty much solidifies Samsung’s union with Google products, in particular Android. So while Samsung may continue to work on Tizen, it’s evident it’s not ready for primetime and signing this deal with Google puts them in a good position.
“We’re pleased to enter into a cross-license with our partner Samsung,” said Allen Lo, Deputy General Counsel for Patents at Google. “By working together on agreements like this, companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation.”
“This agreement with Google is highly significant for the technology industry,” said Dr. Seungho Ahn, the Head of Samsung’s Intellectual Property Center. “Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from cooperating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes.”
This is certainly is a turn in the road that I wasn’t expecting. I was fully on board with Tizen being the new primary OS for Samsung with Android taking a back seat. It looks like I was wrong, at least for the next ten years.
Sources: Engadget, Samsung Tomorrow
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Last Updated on January 23, 2017.
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