Samsung forces Apple and HTC to spill the beans on Android pact

US judge rules two must disclose terms of 10-year patents licensing agreement

Samsung has won its US appeal to have the terms of Apple and HTC's 10-year patents licensing settlement agreement disclosed.

HTC and Apple originally reached their settlement deal on 10 November. The deal will see Apple and HTC enter a decade long deal extending to a number of undisclosed patents held by both companies.

Previously both companies have steadfast refused to comment on the details of the deal.

The cloak and dagger deal caused concern within the technology community, with worries over its implications for other ongoing patent infringement cases. This led the judge to side with Samsung in the case.

Apple confirmed to V3 that it was aware of the ruling but did not want to comment further.

HTC added that it was aware of the ruling but unwilling to comment as it only concerns Samsung and Apple.

Samsung has welcomed the ruling reiterating its claim that Apple is using legal wizardry to stifle competition in the smartphone and tablet markets.

"We have always preferred to compete in the marketplace with our innovative products, rather than in courtrooms. However, Apple continues to take aggressive legal measures that will limit market competition," it said in a statement.

"Under these circumstances, we have little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights."

Apple has launched patent infringement claims against numerous other smartphone and tablet manufacturers including Motorola and Samsung.

Most recently, Apple added Google's Jelly Bean operating system to the list of items it wants banned in its US case against Samsung. Prior to its attack on Jelly Bean, Apple won a $1bn landmark US victory over Samsung.

Samsung has also launched a slew of counter claims, most recently the company has accused the iPad Mini of copyright infringement,. Previously, Samsung had accused the Apple iPhone 5 of copyright infringement.

The two technology companies' legal battle began in the US in 2011, after Apple accused Samsung of "slavishly copying" Apple iPad designs with its Galaxy tablets.