Qualcomm and Apple renew global patent licensing agreement

Qualcomm has announced the renewal of its global patent licensing agreement with Apple, which is set to take effect on April 1, 2027. This new agreement follows the expiration of the previous contract, which was established as part of a 2019 settlement that ended years of high-stakes legal disputes between the two companies.

The renewal focuses specifically on intellectual property and patent licensing for cellular and connectivity technologies. It is distinct from the separate agreement regarding the supply of physical modem hardware. While Apple has been aggressively developing its own in-house cellular modems—such as the C1, C1X, and C2 series—it will still require licenses for Qualcomm’s essential standard-essential patents (SEPs) to ensure its devices remain compatible with global mobile networks.

Qualcomm’s technology licensing division, Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), will continue to manage the portfolio. Although the financial terms, duration, and specific details of the new contract have not been disclosed, the deal provides stability for Qualcomm’s licensing revenue, which remains a significant part of its business, even as Apple reduces its reliance on Qualcomm’s physical chipsets.