IBM And Samsung Announce Patent Cross-License Agreement
Isn't the world just a better place when companies get along? While
that's true in most all cases, it's definitely less fun/interesting, but
there hasn't been a lot of beef between Samsung Electronics and IBM to
begin with. Samsung today introduced a patent cross-license agreement
with IBM, a huge monolith in the supercomputer and enterprise markets.
The deal is there so that each company will license their respective
patent portfolios to each other.
As these usually go, no actual terms are being disclosed, so it's actually between these two as to what exactly will be licensed. Here's the statement put out by IBM: "Over the past several decades, IBM and Samsung have built strong patent portfolios covering a wide range of technologies including semiconductors, telecommunications, visual and mobile communications, software and technology-based services. This cross-licensing agreement enables the two companies to innovate and operate freely while using each other's patented inventions to help keep pace with sophisticated technology and business demands."
Dr. Seungho Ahn, Executive Vice President and Head of the IP Center, Samsung Electronics, had this to say: "This licensing agreement will help both companies expedite innovation and achieve business growth by providing each company access to the other's patents for basic technologies. We also hope the agreement will open new opportunities for wider collaboration between two of the leading innovators in the technology industry."
It's clear that these two companies are going out of their way to make everyone think things are rosy between them, and we certainly hope that's the case. The possibilities from Samsung and IBM having access to each other's IP? Near endless. If some of IBM's exascale computing technology could bleed over into Samsung's notebook and smartphone lines, wow, look out!
As these usually go, no actual terms are being disclosed, so it's actually between these two as to what exactly will be licensed. Here's the statement put out by IBM: "Over the past several decades, IBM and Samsung have built strong patent portfolios covering a wide range of technologies including semiconductors, telecommunications, visual and mobile communications, software and technology-based services. This cross-licensing agreement enables the two companies to innovate and operate freely while using each other's patented inventions to help keep pace with sophisticated technology and business demands."
Dr. Seungho Ahn, Executive Vice President and Head of the IP Center, Samsung Electronics, had this to say: "This licensing agreement will help both companies expedite innovation and achieve business growth by providing each company access to the other's patents for basic technologies. We also hope the agreement will open new opportunities for wider collaboration between two of the leading innovators in the technology industry."
It's clear that these two companies are going out of their way to make everyone think things are rosy between them, and we certainly hope that's the case. The possibilities from Samsung and IBM having access to each other's IP? Near endless. If some of IBM's exascale computing technology could bleed over into Samsung's notebook and smartphone lines, wow, look out!
Samsung Electronics and IBM Announce Patent Cross-License Agreement
SEOUL, South Korea and ARMONK, N.Y., - 08 Feb 2011: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a patent cross-license agreement, under which the companies will license their respective patent portfolios to each other.
Specific terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.
Over the past several decades, IBM and Samsung have built strong patent portfolios covering a wide range of technologies including semiconductors, telecommunications, visual and mobile communications, software and technology-based services. This cross-licensing agreement enables the two companies to innovate and operate freely while using each other's patented inventions to help keep pace with sophisticated technology and business demands.
The companies said the cooperation fostered by cross-licensing reinforces their ability to provide better products and services, while maintaining their competitiveness.
"This licensing agreement will help both companies expedite innovation and achieve business growth by providing each company access to the other's patents for basic technologies," said Dr. Seungho Ahn, Executive Vice President and Head of the IP Center, Samsung Electronics. "We also hope the agreement will open new opportunities for wider collaboration between two of the leading innovators in the technology industry."
"Patents and innovation are a critical component of IBM's high-value business strategy," said Ken King, vice president, Patents, Software & Services IP Licensing for IBM. "In addition to protecting the huge investment we make in R&D, patents also allow us establish cross-licenses, which provide IBM and partners like Samsung with significant freedom of action, which is essential in the competitive global business environment."
IBM and Samsung topped the list of the world's most inventive companies in 2010 as the first and second recipients of U.S. patents, respectively. IBM has been the leading recipient of U.S. patents for 18 consecutive years.
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