Qualcomm has filed patent infringement complaints against Meizu for infringing its patents covering a broad range of features and technologies used in smartphones, including those relating to 3G (WCDMA and CDMA2000) and 4G (LTE) wireless communications standards.
The complaints were filed in the Intellectual Property Courts in Beijing and Shanghai.
The telecom chipmaker has been negotiating with Meizu to sign a patent license agreement consistent with the terms of the rectification plan submitted by Qualcomm to, and accepted by, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in 2015.
Qualcomm says more than 100 other Chinese companies have already accepted the rectification plan terms, including the largest Chinese mobile device suppliers. However, Meizu has refused to engage in good faith negotiations with Qualcomm, choosing instead to engage only in delay tactics. Last negotiation attempt was made in April 2016.
“Meizu has refused to engage in good-faith negotiations despite admitting that it sells products that infringe Qualcomm’s valuable Chinese patents,” said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm.
Rosenberg added that the unfair practice is giving them an improper cost advantage over its competitors. The company proceeded to legal actions 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 the NDRC.
Rajani Baburajan
editor@telecomlead.com
