Apple and Samsung drop some patent disputes

After over 40 expensive lawsuits around the globe, and as I discussed, bogus speculation that Apple and Samsung would resolve their disputes, the two companies have agreed to drop their lawsuits against each other outside of the US. In a joint statement:

Samsung and Apple have agreed to drop all litigation between the two companies outside the United States. This agreement does not involve any licensing arrangements, and the companies are continuing to pursue the existing cases in US courts.

In 2012, the presiding District Court judge told both companies:

If you all had wanted is to raise awareness that you have IP on these devices, messages delivered...On many respects, mission accomplished. It’s time for peace. If you could have your CEOs have one last conversation, I’d appreciate it.

Hopefully Jobs's thermonuclear smartphone patent war will soon end. As I previously discussed, Apple and Google have already dropped their lawsuits.

However, the biggest fights have taken place in the US and will continue to do so. Apple and Samsung did not sign a cross-licensing deal that would settle their lawsuits permanently. In 2012 and 2014, Apple was awarded $1 billion and $120 million in damages, respectively. Samsung is still appealing those decisions.

Samsung is also facing another lawsuit from Microsoft, which claims that it is owed money as part of their patent-sharing agreement.

The smartphone patent wars are far from over, but things appear to be cooling down.