Google inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) has finally reached a settlement with Rockstar’s patent consortium, however, the details surrounding the settlement have yet to be revealed.
Rockstar (which actually counts Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as an investor) outbid Google by paying $4.5 billion three years ago for thousands of former Network Nortel Corp patents as the networking products supplier went bankrupt. Late last year, Rockstar sued Google as well as other phone manufacturers that use the Android operating system. In the lawsuit, Rockstar accused the search giant of infringing upon seven Nortel patents.
Agreement is reached
Both companies reached an agreement to settle controversial matters between them. Google’s representative declined to comment on the matter, and Rockstar’s representatives have yet to be reached. Representatives for Apple and Samsung have also yet to be reached.
The two companies reached an agreement with a term sheet that will be reduced to a more definitive agreement within the next few weeks. That same day, Rockstar then sued a couple of handset makers over different patents. As a result, Google asked a judge in the the state of California to rule that Android devices did not infringe on the patents Rockstar claims it had. Google also had success halting Texas proceedings that went against Android handset makers.
Google tests out subscription service
In other Google-related news, the search giant is about to test out a subscription service that would give the website’s users the option of removing ads. The Contributor program will allow people to pay a small monthly fee of $1 to $3 to skip ads. Instead of advertisements, subscribers will see a “Thank You” note instead. Right now this experiment is exclusive to just 10 web publishers.
The Contributer site explained, “When you visit a participating website, part of your contribution goes to the creators of that site. The more you contribute, the more you support the websites you visit.”
This project is still in the experiment stage. Google is also offering a waiting list form for those who are interested in signing up.
