Apple and Samsung have been waging war over technology patents during the last few years, each claiming the other is stealing ideas.

At times it's gotten rather nasty, which is not surprising considering the amount of money on the line in the so-called smartphone wars.

But the two technology titans have called a semi truce and have agreed to let go all patent disputes outside the U.S., according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The deal impacts battles in eight foreign countries.

A bit of belligerence remains, though, as the patent issues in U.S. courts remain firmly on the table.

"Apple and Samsung have agreed to drop all litigation between the two companies outside the United States," the companies said in a joint statement. "This agreement does not involve any licensing arrangements, and the companies are continuing to pursue the existing cases in U.S. courts."

Apple fired the first shot, suing Samsung in the U.S. back in 2011 for allegedly copying features of the iPhone. Samsung retaliated by filing suit for copyright infringement in South Korea, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and the U.K.

The biggest battles have been in the U.S., where Apple has won two cases that found Samsung guilty of stealing iPhone components. Damages in those cases topped $1 billion.

"The U.S. litigation is the most important. There is the most at stake. Apple in particular is hesitant to let it go," said Michael Carrier, a patent-law expert and law professor at Rutgers University. "I think Apple is coming to the realization step by step that this litigation is not worth it."

Some analysts say that the international agreement will allow Samsung to change its focus to foreign rivals, which could be a threat to both companies. Chinese company Xiaomi was specifically named by Reuters.

"It appears that Samsung and Apple, the market leaders, made a strategic alliance as China's Xiaomi is emerging as a formidable rival," said Cho Chang-hoon, a professor at Sogang University in Seoul.