Samsung, SanDisk End Patent Squabble

Samsung Electronics and SanDisk Corp. have signed a
seven-year extension to a deal that covers licensing and supply of flash
memory technology, ending a months-old patent infringement squabble.

The two sides had sued each other in California and Texas courts earlier
this year over patent rights but the new agreements announced Monday have
effectively dismissed the lawsuits.

Nitty-gritty details of the cross licensing and supply pacts were not
released but Samsung and SanDisk said the agreements cover MLC (multi-level
cell) patents and products.

Flash memory is used primarily in mobile phones and
digital cameras but it is popular in modems because it enables the modem
manufacturer to support new protocols as they become standardized.

A previous patent cross-licensing agreement between Samsung and SanDisk
expired this month.

“We agreed with SanDisk to share patent rights for flash memory production
and Samsung will supply flash memory to the U.S company under the contract,”
Samsung said.