Oppo, Nokia Sign Global Crosslicense Agreement
Oppo said on Wednesday it had signed a joint global licensing agreement with Nokia Technologies covering key standard patents for 5G networks and other mobile technologies, ending a two-year patent licensing dispute between the two companies that led to the ban. . Oppo to sell its devices in Europe, in addition to legal proceedings in India. The terms of the contract remain confidential. Nokia said in a joint statement that it will start recognizing net sales under the agreement, including additional payments to cover non-payments during the dispute period, from the first quarter of 2024.
The Finnish technology company has more than 6,000 patent families necessary for 5G smartphone connectivity. Of these patents, 30 patents covering a range of mobile, communications, user interface and security standards have been the subject of licensing disputes. Nokia licenses these patents to smartphone brands on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
"This agreement reflects the mutual recognition and respect for each other's intellectual property and lays the foundation for future cooperation between OPPO and Nokia," Feng Ying, OPPO's chief intellectual property officer, said in a statement.However, the company said it continues to advocate for reasonable royalties and a long-term approach to intellectual property where disputes can be resolved through amicable negotiations.
The dispute between the two companies led to Oppo being banned from selling its devices in Europe, as well as a number of legal actions in various regions around the world, including India.
"Under the agreement, both parties will work to resolve all pending claims in all jurisdictions," Oppo said.Nokia Technologies president Jenny Lockander said the new deal, along with other major smartphone deals struck over the past year, will ensure the long-term financial stability of its licensing business.
In an Indian court hearing, Nokia said that Oppo received a three-year license from Nokia in 2018 to use some of its technology. However, after the contract expired, Oppo sold around 77 million devices in India without paying any royalty.
Faced with this controversy, Oppo China along with its Indian counterpart and sub-brands Realme and OnePlus have filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's decision to return 23% of the 2018 licensing fee as royalty.
The Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit of Chinese smartphone brands.
