Samsung and Nvidia resolve patent clash

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Nvidia's chief executive had accused Samsung of infringing its patents

Samsung and computer-chip-maker Nvidia have settled a two-year patent battle.

Both firms had claimed the other had infringed the rights to its technologies.

The announcement came hours before a ruling that could have blocked Nvidia from importing some of its products into the US.

Although the agreement brings the dispute to a close, Nvidia said the terms of the deal were limited.

"The settlement includes the licensing of a small number of patents by each company to the other, but no broad cross-licensing of patents or other compensation," .

: "We are happy to resolve this dispute through a fair settlement."

Neither company is disclosing any further details.

Counter-attack

The clash was first made public in September 2014, when Nvidia held a news conference during which its chief executive declared the South Korean tech giant was "using our [graphics] technology for free in their devices".

Jen-Hsun Huang went on to say that his firm was suing the smartphone-maker after months of failed talks.

Two months later, Samsung counter-sued claiming its innovations had been used without permission in Nvidia's Shield tablets and chips.

When the International Trade Commission - a US agency that investigates patent disputes - looked into the matter, it ruled that Samsung's graphics processors had not infringed Nvidia's patents.

But in a follow-up decision, it said Nvidia's chips .

The ITC had been due to announce whether this warranted an import ban, but will no longer do so because the case has been dismissed.