A couple major players in this practice are Intel and IBM, both of whom cross-license extensively to avoid (or convince others to avoid) litigation. Intel now has cross-licensing agreements with every single competitor. IBM is actively approaching start-ups with cross-licensing deals so the start-up can avoid IBM litigation. Also check Philips – Sony (Lagadec). Small might be Syngenta vs. Monsanto. An very important case on the topic is SanDisk and ST.
The courts consider such agreements as procompetitive and this is bore out by the business outcomes of some of these deals.