Sharp sues Chinese smartphone maker over 4G patents
A subsidiary of Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn has sued Chinese smartphone maker Oppo for allegedly infringing 4G telecommunications patents.
In a statement published Monday, March 9, Sharp said it had filed suits at German and Japanese district courts in Munich, Mannheim, and Tokyo.
Oppo, owned by Guangdong-based BBK Electronics, and its Japanese division are accused of infringing long-term evolution (LTE) patents used in smartphones.
LTE is a telecommunications standard associated with the evolution from 3G to 4G technologies.
In a statement, Sharp said it viewed its “patent portfolio as a major resource for its business development”, and would “take necessary actions to protect its IP rights”
Last year, Ericsson and Oppo announced a global cross-licensing deal, covering patents from both companies’ 2G, 3G, and 4G portfolios.
It came as part of a string of telecoms licensing deals for Oppo, which also secured rights to Nokia’s patent portfolio
Foxconn is one of the world’s biggest manufacturing companies, acting as a key supplier for the likes of Apple, Sony, Microsoft, Toshiba, and Amazon.
Its Sharp division mostly manufactures electronic products as phones, televisions, and LCD panels.
WIPR has contacted Oppo for comment in response to the lawsuit.
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