Google, Microsoft Resolve Global Patent Fight
Google and Microsoft have agreed to end their patent feud over smartphones and the Xbox systems, dropping about 20 lawsuits in the U.S. and Germany. The two companies didn’t disclose financial terms of their deal.
Google’s former Motorola Mobility unit had been demanding royalties on the Xbox video-gaming system, and Microsoft had sought to block Motorola mobile phones from using certain features.
The companies pledged in a statement to work together in other ways related to intellectual property, including development of a royalty-free, video-compression technology to speed downloads.
"Google and Microsoft have agreed to collaborate on certain patent matters and anticipate working together in other areas in the future to benefit our customers," the technology giants said in a joint statement.