Priceline Group and IBM start the new year with their complicated patent battle resolved with a confidential settlement.
IBM had sued Priceline Group in 2015, accusing the company - and its subsidiaries Priceline.com, Kayak and OpenTable - of using its patents without authorization and payment.
In the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Delaware, IBM claimed Priceline refused to buy a license to use four of its patents concerning apps and ad displays related to Prodigy, the online service co-founded by IBM in the late 1980s.
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In September, a judge handed out a split ruling in the case that may have led to the settlement on December 29.
As part of the confidential settlement, Priceline Group and IBM obtain patent cross-licenses to each company's worldwide patent portfolio.
As of 2016 data, IBM was the top patent holder in the United States for 24 consecutive years, receiving a record 8,088 patents in that year alone.
"IBM takes pride in its reputation and track record for innovation. This agreement further demonstrates the value of our intellectual property that results from this innovation," says Dr. William Lafontaine, general manager of intellectual property for IBM. "We are pleased this matter has been resolved through negotiation and licensing."
At press time, a Priceline Group representative has yet to return a request for comment.