FEBRUARY 29, 2008 -- Level 3 Communications Inc. (search for Level 3) and IBM (search for IBM) have recently entered into a long-term patent cross-license agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, IBM granted Level 3 licenses to IBM's approximately 42,000 pending and issued patents, which cover a range of telecommunications services and technologies. In turn, Level 3 granted IBM licenses to its more than 850 pending and issued patents, which cover various information handling systems. The licenses will last as long as the lives of the respective patents. Other terms of the cross-license agreement were not disclosed.

"This patent cross-license agreement provides Level 3 the opportunity to take advantage of IBM's innovation as we continuously expand the range of services we provide our customers," says Jack Waters, chief technology officer of Level 3.

Dan Cerutti, IMB's general mananger of intellectual property, says, "With this cross-license, we look forward to deepening our relationship with Level 3, and reaping with them all the benefits of collaboration."

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