Apple And HTC Settle Remaining Lawsuits

In a press statement released late tonight, smartphone titans Apple and HTC have said they settled all outstanding legal disputes. The settlement includes a 10-year-license agreement between the two. The decision is a surprising turn after HTC’s chairman reportedly declared that he had no intention of settling with Apple regarding ongoing legal battles over a number of issues, including a patent suit over the iPhone’s graphical user interface. The war left deep scars: Last year, the United States International Trade Commission banned HTC phones from the U.S.  This story is developing and we will have more to come.

Press release from Apple:

HTC and Apple have reached a global settlement that includes the dismissal of all current lawsuits and a ten-year license agreement. The license extends to current and future patents held by both parties. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

“HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC.

“We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC,” said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. “We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation.”