Apple, Motorola discussed patent settlement: EU

BRUSSELS: Apple Inc held talks with Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc at the end of last year on a potential cross-licensing settlement to end a dispute over smartphone patents, according to a European Union document.

Apple and Motorola Mobility had discussions in late 2011 to license each others' patents “possibly to the benefit of all Android” smartphone manufacturers, according to the document on the EU's website, referring to Google Inc.'s operating system for smartphones and tablets.

The companies “also discussed the scope of any potential settlement” after Google completes its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Apple and Motorola Mobility have sued each other in the US and Europe over technology used in smartphones, a market that researcher IDC said grew 55% last year.

Apple also filed an antitrust complaint with EU regulators after it said Motorola Mobility violated a pledge to license industry-standard patents on fair terms.

Apple told EU regulators that Motorola Mobility initially wanted it to license the company's full patent portfolio in order to gain access to Motorola Mobility's standard-essential patents, said the document which summarized the European Commission's antitrust review of Google's bid for Motorola Mobility.

Jennifer Erickson, a spokeswoman for Motorola Mobility in San Diego, declined to immediately comment. Alan Hely, a spokesman for Apple in London, didn't immediately respond to a call and an e-mail seeking comment.

“Apple also argues that its refusal to accede to this demand led Motorola Mobility to sue Apple in an attempt to exclude Apple's products from the market,” according to the EU document, published March 9 on the EU website.