BlackBerry, Cisco ink patent cross-licensing agreement

Canadian handset maker BlackBerry and global networking giant Cisco said they have entered into a long-term patent cross-licensing agreement covering their respective products and technologies.

As part of the cross-licensing agreement, BlackBerry will receive a licence fee from Cisco, the companies said in a statement. Specific terms of the deal, including value, were not disclosed.

Both BlackBerry and Cisco have a major presence in India in terms of products, services and operations. "Our agreement with Cisco underscores the value companies place on BlackBerry's broad and foundational patent portfolio," BlackBerry Vice President Intellectual Property (IP) and Licensing Mark Kokes said.

With the agreement in place, BlackBerry and Cisco can focus on innovation and continued technical cooperation, allowing companies more freedom to create products and services for customers without the potential for patent disputes, he added.

"Cross-licensing is an effective way for technology companies to assure freedom of operation and help remove concerns about patent litigation," Cisco VP (IP) Dan Lang said.