Ericsson and Apple announced their global patent license agreement including a cross-license relating to patented cellular standard-essential technologies and grants certain other patent rights.
The settlement between Ericsson and Apple 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 billion.
Christina Petersson, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson said: “The settlement of the litigations with Apple with this agreement is of strategic importance to our 5G licensing program.”
The value of Ericsson’s patent portfolio of more than 60,000 granted patents is strengthened by its position as 5G vendor, and annual investments of more than $4 billion in R&D. Ericsson is confident of growing its IPR revenues with new 5G agreements and by expanding into other licensing areas long term.
