Huawei reaches global patent licensing deal with Xiaomi
Kevin Frayer
Huawei Technologies and Xiaomi (OTCPK:XIACF) said they reached a global patent cross-licensing agreement which covers multiple communications technologies including 5G.
“This licensing agreement once again reflects the industry’s recognition of Huawei’s contributions to communications standards and will help us enhance our investment in researching future mobile communications technologies,” said Alan Fan, Head of Huawei’s Intellectual Property Department.
In March, local Chinese media outlets had reported that Huawei was suing Xiaomi for alleged infringement of four registered patents mainly linked to wireless communication technology, smartphone photography and screen lock tech, according to a report from Reuters.
“This shows that both parties recognize and respect each other’s intellectual property,” said Ran Xu, Xiaomi’s General Manager of Corporate Business Development and IP Strategy in a press release on Wednesday.
Huawei once was in race with Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (OTCPK:SSNLF) to be the world’s biggest handset maker until U.S. restrictions, starting in 2019, began to curb its access to chip manufacturing tools needed for producing its most advanced models.
In August, the company quietly launched its new phone, Mate 60 Pro while investors speculated that it could be using a 5G capable chip. According to a Bank of America analyst, the new Mate 60 could pose an opportunity for Huawei to regain market share if it’s able to supply and scale the homegrown Kirin 9000S chip, and it could also have an impact on iPhone sales, especially in the Asia Pacific region.
On Tuesday, Apple unveiled its latest iPhone 15 lineup and the next generation of Apple Watch.
