What are the implications of Qualcomm’s lawsuit against this popular Chinese smartphone maker?

Qualcomm Files Lawsuit Against Chinese Smartphone Maker Transsion Holdings

Qualcomm, the leading chip supplier for Android phones, has filed a lawsuit against Chinese smartphone manufacturer Transsion Holdings. The US-based chipmaker initiated legal action in India, according to a report by The Financial Times.

Qualcomm alleges that Transsion has violated four non-standard essential patents. Transsion, known for brands like Tecno, Infinix, and iTel, is being sued to protect Qualcomm’s patent rights and ensure a fair competitive landscape for all its licensees, said Ann Chaplin, Qualcomm’s general counsel.

Chaplin noted that Transsion refused to accept a license from Qualcomm for most of its mobile products, leaving Qualcomm no choice but to pursue litigation to enforce its rights. Notably, Transsion is one of the few Android smartphone manufacturers that does not use Qualcomm chipsets, opting for Mediatek processors in its Tecno and Infinix devices.

In response, a Transsion spokesperson stated that the company respects third-party intellectual property rights and is open to reaching IP license agreements through amicable negotiations. They also mentioned that Transsion has signed a 5G standard patent license agreement with Qualcomm and is currently fulfilling that agreement.

This is not the first time Transsion has faced legal action over IP violations. In 2019, Huawei also filed a lawsuit against the company.