Samsung"s Galaxy devices, like the Galaxy S4, use Google"s Android OS.
Samsung, which has had great success with the sales of its Android-based Galaxy smartphone products, will now be able to avoid any kind of future patent issues with Google. Today, Samsung announced a new deal with Google that will allow both companies access to each other"s existing patents, along with any new ones that are filed in the next 10 years.
Today"s press release, which didn"t reveal any specific financial terms, should allow for both companies to continue working on their projects without the threat of litigation over their heads. Dr. Seungho Ahn, who heads up Samsung’s Intellectual Property Center, stated in the press release, "Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from cooperating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes."
Even though Samsung and Google have cemented this new agreement, there are signs that the folks in Korea might want to move away from using the Android OS in future high end products. Samsung is already sending out invites to a press event in February so it can show off new smartphones that use the company"s home grown Tizen OS.
Source: Samsung