China’s Huawei files a series of lawsuits for IP violation

China’s Huawei files a series of lawsuits for IP violation. July. 08, 2016 08:44. by 김지현기자 jhk85@donga.com.

Following Samsung’s lead, Huawei, the 3rd largest Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world, has filed a patent lawsuit against T-Mobile, a 3rd largest wireless network operator in the U.S. It is quite unusual that a smartphone maker sues a network operator to whom its products are supplied.

According to Phone Arena, a website for global IT information on Wednesday (local time), Huawei has sued T-Mobile in the U.S. District Court in Eastern Texas for allegedly violating 14 patents on 4G wireless LTE technology. The Chinese mobile giant contended that it has demanded T-Mobile from 2014 to conclude a licensing agreement on intellectual property but its American counterpart has rejected its demand, stopping the negotiation. “It’s not that we are claiming for compensation for damage but that we want to reach a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory license agreement on intellectual property,” Huawei is said to have requested to the court.

It has also filed another lawsuit against Samsung for patent infringement. According to foreign media, Huawei sued Samsung to intermediate court in Shenzhen, Guangdong and in Quanzhou, Fujian and claimed some 80 million Chinese yuan (approx. 12 million U.S. dollars) in patent infringement and 500,000 yuan (approx. 74,858 dollars) in litigation expense, contending “Samsung has infringed their patent.”

Its petition argued that Samsung has used without permission its patents on icons and widget designs whose business rights have been recognized by National Direction of Intellectual Property in China since 2010. In May, Huawei sued Samsung in the U.S. and China for patent infringement on 4G network technology, claiming damages. “It appears that Huawei is filing a series of lawsuits to expand its global sales beyond its domestic market,” said sources in electronic business analyzed. "It could also be a strategy to reveal its presence in advanced markets such as North America."