Microsoft and Samsung settle US contract dispute

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Microsoft and Samsung settle US contract dispute

Microsoft’s legal action against Samsung for not complying with an IP cross-licensing agreement has been settled, the two parties have revealed

Microsoft in August last year filed legal action against Samsung in the Southern District of New York for not complying with an IP cross-licensing agreement. The two parties have reached an agreement on undisclosed terms.

“Samsung and Microsoft are pleased to announce that they have ended their contract dispute in US court as well as the ICC arbitration. Terms of the agreement are confidential,” Jaewan Chi, Samsung executive vice-president, and David Howard, Microsoft corporate vice-president and deputy general counsel, said in a joint statement.

In 2011, Samsung entered into a contract with Microsoft to cross-license IP.

Howard said in a blog post in August 2014: “After becoming the leading player in the worldwide smartphone market, Samsung decided late last year to stop complying with its agreement with Microsoft. In September 2013, after Microsoft announced it was acquiring the Nokia Devices and Services business, Samsung began using the acquisition as an excuse to breach its contract. Curiously, Samsung did not ask the court to decide whether the Nokia acquisition invalidated its contract with Microsoft, likely because it knew its position was meritless.”



more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Via Licensing Alliance continues its China push as another smartphone manufacturer joins patent pool as licensee
Law firm mergers have the potential to reshape IP teams, and partners who were at the coalface of previous tie-ups say early coordination and flexibility can make the difference
Women are entering the IP profession, but still too few are being trusted with the clients, cases, and credit that may open the path to leadership
In other news, Australia’s IP office has announced expanded search options, and an EPO report shed light on slow progress relating to women inventors in Europe
Managing IP speaks with up-and-coming women lawyers at five law firms about fighting imposter syndrome, maintaining work-life balance and why real representation matters
Kilpatrick’s managing partner for San Francisco discusses taking the longer route to partnership, the importance of female mentors, and strengthening office culture
Home-working and grace periods at IP offices have been announced, while Managing IP understands Iran’s IP office is out of service
With INTA 2026 just two months away, London-based IP practitioners offer tips on making the most out of the city
New platform, which covers SEPs for the Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 standards, includes 10 patent owners
The Texas-based IP litigation hires take King & Spalding’s partner appointments from pre-merger Winston & Strawn up to 12 this year
Gift this article