In what could be a defining moment in IT history Apple and Google Mobility have ended four years of fighting over patents. In a joint statement they said: “Apple and Google havereed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist directly between the two companies.”
The myriad legal battles were consolidated into one lawsuit in 2012 but the latest announcement could signal all quiet on the IT front at least as far as these two giants are concerned.
The statement also said Apple and Google hadreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. But the deal does not lude a cross licence.
The fighting stems back to 2010 when Apple took on Motorola over disputed patents. Google inherited the legal stoush when it bought Motorola’s phone business in 2012.
But it’s not over yet. Apple will continue to sue competitors using Google’s OS unless a deal can be struck with vendors such as Samsung.
