This morning, we told you how Samsung and Apple’s patent war was a rich fountain of knowledge, giving us insight into the business dealings of all the companies involved. Together, we read about Apple’s vain attempt to stretch out to Samsung and…. Wait, what? More revelations? To the Batmobile!

It has emerged from the trial that Apple and Microsoft have struck up some kind of licensing deal, complete with “anti-cloning” clause.

Microsoft recently released its Surface Tablet, if you’re not familiar with it, it looks like an iPad, with Windows 8 and a cooler logo. Particularly, the similarity stretches to the gentle curve of the back of the Surface. Despite the similarities however, Microsoft are perfectly within their rights to do this. From the trial, AllThingsD shared this:

Teksler noted that Apple and Microsoft have a cross-license agreement that does cover the design patents at issue in this case, but said that there are also special “anti-cloning” provisions in the agreement between those two companies. “We couldn’t copy each other’s products”

By “Teksler” we of course mean Boris Teksler, director of patents at Apple, a man whose job is so volatile, he probably spends more time in therapy than he does at Cupertino.

“Boris… It’s Samsung, shall I tell them you’re off sick again?”

What this nugget of info means, is that Microsoft are paying Apple to use some of its patents for their own products, and Apple may well be paying Microsoft to do the same. It isn’t specified how much Microsoft pays Apple, but I highly doubt that it stretches to the $30 a device that Apple have recently demanded from Samsung, mainly because Microsoft don’t make phones… but you know what I mean. Apple and Microsoft clearly have a healthy relationship with each other that allows them to utilise each other’s intellectual property in a way that is beneficial to everyone. Why isn’t it always like that? For me, the evidence of Apple’s good relationship with Microsoft gives me hope that maybe Apple and Samsung can resolve their differences and start patching things up. What do you think? Leave your comments below!

@TiP_Stephen

Via: http: 9to5 Mac