Following Nokia’s successful campaign to halt Oppo and OnePlus smartphone sales in Germany, Vivo is now facing the same fate. Last week, Nokia obtained a preliminary injunction from the court, prohibiting the sale of Vivo smartphones in Germany if they incorporate technologies patented by Nokia. The injunction comes in the wake of failed negotiations regarding licensing fees for certain Nokia patents. Here are the details…

Nokia’s Patent Crusade: After Oppo and OnePlus, Vivo Faces Sales Ban in Germany

Nokia claims that the courts decision validates Vivo’s infringement of the company’s patents, which cover a variety of mobile and 5G technologies. Vivo refused to pay the licensing fees demanded by Nokia after a previously existing agreement between the two companies expired in December 2021.

Vivo

Nokia says that it took “every possible step to reach an out-of-court settlement and initiate negotiations on extending the license” before initiating legal proceedings against Vivo in May 2021. Currently, according to the Finnish company, the distribution of Vivo smartphones using Nokia’s patented technologies without the payment of appropriate licensing fees is illegal.

Vivo Prepares for the Worst

In an initial statement published on its website, Vivo announced that it would appeal the decision, asserting that Nokia has not licensed its patents on fair terms. Nokia has already countered this claim, stating that the Mannheim District Court confirmed that the company had acted fairly. Vivo has begun preparations for a possible sales stoppage in Germany, while still hoping for a resolution with Nokia on “fair” terms.

Although there have been rumors that OnePlus and Oppo may withdraw from the German market later this year due to the ongoing patent dispute with Nokia, Vivo has preemptively denied such speculation. The company intends to maintain a long-term presence in Germany, and existing customers will continue to receive full service support.

Oppo, OnePlus, and Vivo are all part of the same Chinese conglomerate, BBK Electronics. While Oppo and Vivo operate as independent brands under the BBK umbrella, Vivo’s presence in Germany has been comparatively limited, with fewer products and significantly less marketing effort. Consequently, the number of models potentially affected by a sales ban would be relatively small.

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