Apple and GPU-maker Imagination make nice in new licensing deal

Apple discusses the iPad Pro's A12X CPU and GPU on stage at its October 30, 2018 event. (credit: Valentina Palladino)

Imagination Technologies, which used to provide the graphics processors for Apple's mobile devices, has entered into a new licensing agreement with Apple that comes after two years of turmoil between the companies. Imagination shared the news in a very short press release on its website:

Imagination Technologies ("Imagination") announces that it has replaced the multi-year, multi-use license agreement with Apple, first announced on February 6, 2014, with a new multi-year license agreement under which Apple has access to a wider range of Imagination's intellectual property in exchange for license fees.

Founded in 1985, UK-based Imagination Technologies (formerly called VideoLogic) has produced silicon and software for home theater set-top boxes, the Sega Dreamcast game console, arcade game cabinets, and many other devices-including the GPUs for Apple's iPhones until Apple began designing its own video chips in recent years.

Through much of the 2010s, Imagination was heavily dependent on Apple for revenue, and its fortunes were tied to shrinking iPhone sales. Apple reportedly hired engineers and other employees away from Imagination, and ultimately the company notified Imagination in 2017 of its intention to end its licensing agreements within two years in favor of making its own chips.

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