Microsoft and Google have agreed to drop all regulatory complaints against one another to work out such differences between themselves in the future.

“Our companies compete vigorously, but we want to do so on the merits of our products, not in legal proceedings,”

a Google spokesman said in response to an AFP inquiry.

The US technology industry rivals late last year agreed to end all patent infringement litigation against each other.

A Microsoft spokesman said,

the decision to withdraw its regulatory complaints against Google around the world reflected “changing legal priorities” while the companies continue “competing vigorously.” Word of the accord came just days after the European Union opened a new anti-trust battle with Google, charging the US tech giant with abusing the dominance of its Android mobile phone operating system.

Under chief executive Satya Nadella, Microsoft has made a series of collaborative moves with rivals, including making versions of its popular productivity programs available on Apple devices.