Patent ‘Peace Deal’ between Google & Cisco
Google Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. signed an accord that will provide mutual protection from patent litigation over most of their products and technologies, part of the companies` effort to reduce the cost and distraction of intellectual property lawsuits.
Cisco is Silicon
Valley’s biggest employer based in San Jose. Google is the region’s
fifth-biggest private employer based in Mountain View.
As such, the accord
between the 2 giants is bound to reverberate through the technology economy
here.
The financial terms
were not disclosed. This Cisco agreement follows a similar patent pact Google
signed with Samsung Electronics Co. late last month to foster collaboration and
reduce potential for litigation.
This accord sets a
new trend as an example for those inclined to trade with “patent privateers,”
or proxies who sue on behalf of larger technology companies.
