Qualcomm expands global patent battle against Meizu
October 19, 2016 | BY
Katherine JoThe American telecom and semiconductor company has filed additional patent infringement cases against Chinese smartphone maker Meizu in the U.S., Germany and France
Qualcomm Inc. has expanded its patent infringement actions against Chinese smartphone maker Meizu Technology Co. by filing actions in the United States, Germany and France. The San Diego, California-based company was left with “no choice” but to initiate these legal proceedings, according to Qualcomm's general counsel.
Qualcomm, which boasts a large patent portfolio with patents for 3G and 4G wireless technologies, filed a complaint against Meizu on Oct. 14 with the U.S. International Trade Commission, according to a statement. The company also filed a patent infringement action in Germany with the Mannheim Regional Court and an infringement-seizure action in France to obtain evidence for a potential infringement action in the future.
Meizu is one of the top 10 smartphone manufacturers in China and claims to have sold 8.9 million units worldwide in the first half of 2015.
“Meizu's refusal to negotiate a license agreement in good faith and its sales and distribution of infringing products around the world leave Qualcomm with no choice but to protect our patent rights through these additional legal proceedings,” Donald Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel at Qualcomm, said in a statement.
Similar efforts to protect Qualcomm's patents were initiated in June, when the company filed multiple actions against Meizu in China related to licensing terms and for infringing its patents that cover features and technologies relating to 3G and 4G wireless communications standards.
“Meizu is attempting to obtain an unfair and improper cost advantage over its competitors,”Rosenberg said in June. ”Regrettably, we must turn to court actions in order to protect our rights, and importantly, to maintain fairness and a level playing field for the more than 100 Chinese companies that are respectful of patent rights and have entered into license agreements in conformance with the resolution reached by Qualcomm with [China's National Development and Reform Commission].”
By Jennifer Williams-Alvarez, Corporate Counsel
Contact the reporter at [email protected].
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