Google and Samsung have signed an extensive patent cross-licensing agreement for several unspecified intellectual properties.
The deal would allow the two technology companies to share granted and pending patents filed for the next decade. Additionally, it would extend their influence in a "broad range of technologies and business areas."
"Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from co-operating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes," said Samsung's Intellectual Property Center head Seungho Ahn to Financial Times.
Google head of patents Allen Lo added, "By working together on agreements like this, companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation."
By mid-February, chief executive officers of both companies will finally meet for mediation.
Collaboration like the deal between Samsung and Google is not the first in their industry. In 2012, HTC and Apple have agreed on a 10-year licensing deal. In November 2013, the Wall Street Journal reported that Nokia and Samsung agreed to extend their licensing deal through 2018.
However, though the union is mostly seen to be advantageous for the future technology, some see it as a way to prevent the occurrence of numerous complaints filed against mobile device manufacturers using Google's famous operating system Android.
One significant complaint was filed in October 2013 by Apple, BlackBerry, Ericsson, Microsoft, and Sony, - collectively known as the Rockstar Consortium - against Google, Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei and three other smartphone manufacturers that employ Android for allegedly infringing the patents acquired from Nortel for $4.5 billion in 2011. Rockstar was expecting compensation from the damages caused by Google for the past and future use of the infringed patents, according to the complaint.
In December 2013, Google filed a counter-complaint in San Jose, California against the consortium. A few days after, the company was included as a co-defendant of Samsung in a Texas suit involving the Galaxy Nexus smartphone.
