In a strategic development first reported by AppleInsider, citing an 8K form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Apple has worked out an extension of its exclusive licensing deal with Liquidmetal for two more years.

According to the report, Apple's recent move to re-up its licensing agreement with Liquidmetal implies that the iPhone-maker will retain exclusive rights to any technology which Liquidmetal creates or acquires till at least February
5, 2014. The deal was originally set to expire on February 5 this year.

Apple's exclusive rights to the use of Liquidmetal - which is a steely metal alloy of zirconium, titanium, nickel, copper and beryllium - roots in the Master Transaction Agreement from August 2010. Under the terms of the deal, it was obligatory for Liquidmetal to contribute "all intellectual property acquired or developed by the Company" to a "special purpose subsidiary" known as Crucible Intellectual Property.

According to the details shared by Liquidmetal researchers, while the fabrication of devices with the alloy is still in its early stages, Apple and a few other manufacturers have already started using the technology for small components.

With Apple having extended its exclusivity agreement for Liquidmetal use, the SEC filing revealed that the new deal between Apple and Liquidmetal essentially amends the companies' earlier agreement to extend the exclusive license "on a perpetual basis to Apple for the field of use of consumer electronic products" for another two years.