Apple and Qualcomm Extend Patent Licensing Agreement
Apple and Qualcomm have renewed their global patent licensing agreement, which was set to expire in 2027. According to Qualcomm, the new agreement will take effect on April 1, 2027; however, there is no information yet on its duration or a statement from Apple.
Apple and Qualcomm have announced that they have renewed their global patent licensing agreement, which was set to expire in 2027. According to Qualcomm's statement, the new agreement will take effect on April 1, 2027. This means the two companies, who once engaged in a major legal battle, have once again secured their licensing partnership.
From past lawsuits to a new agreement
The relationship between the two companies has gone through a turbulent period in the past. In 2017, Apple sued Qualcomm in a U.S. federal court, challenging its patent licensing practices and royalty payments, and sought around $1 billion in royalty refunds. Qualcomm, in turn, filed a lawsuit against Apple during the same period, alleging breach of contract.
This wide-ranging legal battle, which continued around the world, came to an end in 2019 when the parties withdrew all lawsuits. As part of their settlement, Apple made an undisclosed payment to Qualcomm, and the parties signed a six-year global patent licensing agreement effective from April 1, 2019. Apple exercised the agreement's two-year extension option, extending the term until March 2027.
John Han, General Manager of Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), said they were pleased with the extension. No details were given on how many years the new agreement will last. There has been no official statement from Apple on the matter yet.
