Ericsson and Apple Sign Global Patent License Agreement
·
Agreement includes global cross-license for
patented cellular standard-essential technologies and grants certain other patent
rights.
·
Settlement ends all ongoing patent-related
legal disputes between the parties.
·
Including effects of the settlement, and
including ongoing IPR business with all other licensees, Ericsson estimates fourth
quarter 2022 IPR licensing revenues will be SEK 5.5 - 6.0 b.
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC)
and Apple have reached a multi-year, global patent license agreement between the
two companies. The agreement includes a cross-license relating to patented cellular
standard-essential technologies and grants certain other patent rights.
Furthermore, Ericsson
and Apple have mutually agreed to strengthen their technology and business collaboration,
including in technology, interoperability and standards development.
This settlement ends the
lawsuits filed by both companies in several countries, including in the United States
District Court of the Eastern District of Texas, as well as the complaints filed
before the United States International Trade Commission (USITC).
Ericsson’s IPR licensing
revenues continue to be affected by several factors, including expired patent license
agreements pending renewal, the technology shift from 4G to 5G, and possible currency
effects and geopolitical impact going forward. Including effects of the agreement
with Apple covering sales from January 15, 2022, and including ongoing IPR business
with all other licensees, Ericsson estimates the fourth quarter 2022 IPR licensing
revenues will be SEK 5.5 - 6.0 b.
Christina Petersson, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson says:
“We are pleased to settle the litigations with Apple with this agreement, which
is of strategic importance to our 5G licensing program. This will allow both companies
to continue to focus on bringing the best technology to the global market.”
Over several decades,
Ericsson has been a leading contributor to 3GPP and to the development of global
mobile standards for the benefit of consumers and enterprises everywhere. The value
of Ericsson’s patent portfolio of more than 60,000 granted patents is strengthened
by our leading position as 5G vendor, and annual investments of more than USD 4
b in R&D. The company is confident of growing its IPR revenues with new 5G agreements
and by expanding into other licensing areas long term.