It would appear that the patent battle between HTC and Apple, which has been going on since early 2010, is finally closed, with the two companies agreeing to opt for a ten-year licensing agreement.

The dispute began over two years ago when Apple levied a complaint regarding twenty patents at HTC, claiming infringement. Of course after that the two slapped each other with dispute after dispute, and the fight has boiled on ever since. The sudden conclusion comes as something of a shock, since – as the Verge reports – HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang said just three months ago the Taiwanese manufacturer had no plans to settle its spat with Apple.

Right now, the exact details of the deal are closely guarded, but a statement released regarding the situation gives us brief words from HTC's CEO Peter Chou, and Apple's Tim Cook. Chou remarked "HTC is pleased to have resolved its dispute with Apple, so HTC can focus on innovation instead of litigation."

Cook, with a similar message, stated "We are glad to have reached a settlement with HTC. We will continue to stay laser focused on product innovation."

We'll keep you updated as more information emerges. In the meantime, just look below for the full statement.

Source: HTC, Apple Via Engadget, The Verge