Patent disputes can be really nasty, and the BBK Group learned this the hard way. In 2021, Nokia sued Oppo and its sub-brand OnePlus for patent infringement in Germany, which forced both companies to cease operations in the country. The same lawsuit is now causing Realme, another BBK-owned company, to abandon the German market, according to a report.

Realme will shift focus to other European markets: Report

Realme’s European division told Nextpit that business in Germany has slowed significantly following internal discussions and the pending Nokia lawsuit. The company is still awaiting positive news regarding license negotiations with Nokia before it can resume marketing efforts in Germany. Although Realme did not explicitly state its exit from Germany, the publication suggests that the company hinted at the possibility.

Realme-11-Pro

For the unknown, Nokia filed a lawsuit against Chinese smartphone makers Oppo and OnePlus for patent infringement in Germany. Nokia accused the companies of using its patented technology for processing 4G and 5G signals without paying for a license. In August 2022, a German court made a decision in favor of Nokia, instructing Oppo and OnePlus to halt smartphone sales in Germany. The court determined that the companies had violated two of Nokia’s standard essential patents (SEPs). These patents are crucial for the proper operation of 4G and 5G networks.

Nextpit points out that Realme intends to redirect its attention toward other key markets such as Italy, Poland, Spain, and the Balkans. Vivo also ceased operations in Germany recently, resulting in the entire BBK Group exiting the country. This creates an opportunity for manufacturers like Xiaomi and Honor to capitalize on the market.

Realme was never a highly popular smartphone brand in Germany, but the company did have a presence, offering consumers more options to choose from.


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