Apple, Microsoft pact not to sue each other over mobile patent infringements revealed

London, Aug 15 (ANI): Tech giant Apple and software firm Microsoft have a secret agreement not to sue each other over infringement of smartphone patents, it has emerged.

Apple and Microsoft have cross-licensed their technologies, with the proviso that Windows phone devices should not look like iOS devices, known as an "anti-cloning" provision.

"There was no right with respect to these design patents to build clones of any type," said Boris Teksler, Apple's patent chief, discussing the entente with Microsoft.

According to The Telegraph, the revelations emerged during a trial in which Samsung is accused of "slavishly copying" the iPhone and iPad.

Teksler told a Silicon Valley court that Apple had tried to do a similar deal, again banning "cloning", with Samsung in 2010, but negotiations failed, setting the rivals on the path to court.

Apple offered a clutch of patents for licensing, he told the court, but crucially viewed patents related to what he called the "unique user experience" as a highly protected category, the report said.

Those included design patents at issue in the lawsuit, covering the look and feel of the iPhone and iPad.

Teksler said last week he could count 'on one hand' the instances Apple has licensed those patents. (ANI)