Nokia recently announced a 'multi-year' 5G patent agreement with Vivo, a leading Chinese smartphone brand. According to the agreement, Vivo will pay royalties to Nokia, putting an end to the patent battle that has been ongoing between the two companies.
The agreement, confirmed by Nokia on Tuesday, includes not only royalties but also retroactive payments from Vivo for the period during which the legal dispute was ongoing. Nokia stated that "The agreement resolves all patent disputes in all jurisdictions." The specific terms of the deal are confidential, as indicated by the Finnish telecom company.
The patent battle between Nokia and Vivo dates back to 2021 and primarily focuses on 5G patents held by Nokia. Vivo had been using these patents without proper authorization, leading to a sales ban imposed in Germany. However, with the newly reached agreement, this ban is expected to be lifted.
Reuters reported that Vivo is now the sixth major phone company to reach a patent agreement with Nokia in the past thirteen months. Earlier this year, Nokia also closed a deal with OPPO, resolving a similar patent infringement issue that led to a sales ban in Germany for OPPO and its sister company, OnePlus.
Overall, the agreement between Nokia and Vivo signifies a positive development in the tech industry, highlighting the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and fostering collaboration among leading companies.
English (US)