Ericsson and Apple have signed global patent license agreement, settling litigation. The deal includes a global cross license for patented standard-essential technologies and grants certain other patent rights. This will end all ongoing patent-infringement claims between the parties. The terms of the agreement are confidential.
The two will collaborate in multiple technology areas, including 5G development, video network traffic management, and wireless network optimization. Including positive effects from the settlement, and including the ongoing IPR business with all other licensees, Ericsson estimates full year 2015 IPR revenues will amount to SEK 13bn-14bn.
As part of the seven-year agreement, Apple will make an initial payment to Ericsson and, thereafter, will pay on-going royalties.
This agreement ends investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission, lawsuits pending in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, as well as lawsuits in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.
"We are pleased with this new agreement with Apple, which clears the way for both companies to continue to focus on bringing new technology to the global market, and opens up for more joint business opportunities in the future," said Kasim Alfalahi, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson.