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US: Apple, Google call patent war truce

By  |  January 22, 2014

Tech rivals Apple and Google have reportedly decided to drop all patent-related litigation against each other.

According to reports, the two had more than 20 lawsuits regarding allegations of patent infringement. The two were major players in the so-called “patent wars,” still raging between other tech rivals. Companies across the globe are suing each other over alleged patent infringement, claims of unfair licensing fees, and other anticompetitive behavior that has forced antitrust authorities to examine how this patent litigation could be affecting competition and innovation.

But for the time being, Apple and Google have reportedly made nice and instead have decided to work together on patent reform.

In a joint statement, the companies announced, “Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist directly between the two companies. Apple and Google have also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. This agreement does not include a cross license.”

The majority of these patent feuds focused on Apple’s iPhone and iPad and Google’s Android smartphone OS.

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