Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google and Samsung Sign Global Patent Deal

Posted by samzenpus on from the we-agree-to-agree dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google and Samsung have signed a global patent cross-licensing agreement aimed at reducing 'the potential for litigation' and enhancing innovation. The deal will cover 'a broad range of technologies and business areas' and apply to both existing patents and any filed over the next decade. The move is also expected to strengthen their position against rivals such as Apple, which has filed multiple lawsuits worth billions of dollars for alleged patent infringements."

3 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. 1 edge by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So we have a broken patent system with thousands of broken abusive nodes(companies with dumb patents), and millions of broken abusive edges(suing each other).

    But good news, everyone! We removed one edge from the graph, and everything's better now. We're treating the symptoms and not the disease.

  2. Also blocks startups. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So these megacorps can freely use each other's overbroad patents-of-vague-concepts, but any time an independent inventor tries to get a business off the ground, he will be litigated into oblivion.

    Patents do not foster innovation, they protect the wealthy from it.

    1. Re:Also blocks startups. by Nerdfest · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'm not sure about Samsung, but find me an instance of Google suing someone without being sued first, and no Motorola before Google bought them does not count. Google has not been a patent dick.

      There are also some open patent pools that will also help stop the abuses of ... certain companies. Of course, the laws really need to be changed. No software patents, FRAND charges defining 'reasonable' in dollars or percentages, etc.