Ericsson and Oppo argue over patent licenses…

Ericsson has signed a multi-year cross-licensing patent agreement with mobile phone manufacturer Oppo on mobile technologies such as 5G, as well as a commercial cooperation agreement.

Ericsson said Oppo would pay royalties and that the financial benefits of the agreement had already been reflected in the company’s second quarter 2024 financial results.

The companies said the agreement is in line with global practice that requires companies offering products based on 3GPP standards, such as 5G, to have a licensing agreement with patent holders and ensures compensation for R&D investments.

There were few details about the business cooperation; it is said to only cover device testing, a focus on 5G development and marketing activities.

Christina Petersson, chief intellectual property officer at Ericsson, said the patent agreement will enable the vendor to continue investing in core communications technologies and expand into additional areas such as IoT and consumer electronics.

“The license confirms that the patent licensing industry is working and is proof that the vast majority of licensing agreements are based on commercial negotiations. It also reflects mutual respect for each other’s patent portfolios,” she added.

Ericsson announced that it has a portfolio of more than 60,000 granted patents, including a leading 5G portfolio.

Oppo has been involved in a patent dispute with Ericsson rival Nokia in several European countries since 2021. However, the issue was resolved earlier this year when the two companies entered into a cross-licensing agreement, settling the dispute in all jurisdictions.