Ericsson signs a global patent licensing agreement with Apple to end all patent disputes between the two sides

CTOnews.com, December 9 (Xinhua)-- Ericsson said Friday that it has reached a global patent licensing agreement with Apple, ending a dispute over the payment of royalties for the use of 5G wireless patents in iPhone.

The Swedish telecoms equipment maker said the multi-year agreement included the necessary technology for global cross-licensing of patented cellular standards and granted certain other patents.

"the settlement ends all ongoing patent-related legal disputes between the two parties," Ericsson said in a statement.

CTOnews.com learned that the deal came after Ericsson filed a second round of patent infringement lawsuits against iPhone maker Apple in January. The two companies have sued each other in the United States after negotiations failed to renew a seven-year telecommunications patent license contract first agreed in 2015.

Ericsson first sued in October 2021, alleging that Apple was trying to improperly cut patent fees. Subsequently, iPhone maker Apple filed a lawsuit in December 2021, accusing the Swedish company of using "tough measures" to update patents.

Ericsson on Friday forecast fourth-quarter intellectual property (IPR) licensing revenue of 5.5 billion Swedish kronor (3.695 billion yuan) to 6 billion Swedish kronor ($4.03 billion) ($530.3 million-$578.5 million), including the impact of the settlement and ongoing IPR business with all other licensees.

Ericsson said it and Apple mutually agreed to strengthen technical and business cooperation, including in technology, interoperability and standards development. However, Apple has not publicly commented on the agreement reached between the two companies.