In a win-win move for both companies, Nokia and Honor have signed 5G patents cross-licensing agreement, smoothing the way for further development and deployment of 5G technology. 

This deal, announced on January 4th, covers fundamental inventions in 5G and other cellular networks and marks Nokia’s fourth major smartphone patent agreement in the past year.

The specific terms of the agreement are under wraps, but both companies expressed their satisfaction. Susanna Martikainen, Chief Licensing Officer at Nokia, pointed out this deal highlights the strength of their patent portfolio and decades of contributions to mobile technology. 

Honor’s representative, Zhou Wenyu, emphasized their commitment to intellectual property rights and belief in fair pricing for essential patents.

Honor Nokia 5G patents

This agreement is more than just a paper handshake. It avoids potential legal battles while fostering collaboration on crucial 5G technology. Both companies are major players in the mobile industry. Nokia has poured over €140 billion into R&D since 2000, resulting in roughly 20,000 patent families, including over 6,000 crucial for 5G. Also, for Nokia, this marks their fourth major smartphone patent agreement in the past 12 months. 

Honor, on the other hand, sees this agreement as a testament to their commitment to innovation and intellectual property rights. They too are investing heavily in R&D, reportedly dedicating around 10% of their revenue to stay ahead of the curve. Also, their global patent applications are said to have crossed the 20,000 mark.

This news comes on the heels of a recent Chinese court ruling in favor of Nokia in a patent royalty dispute with another phone maker. This decision sets a global precedent for 2G-5G standard essential patent litigation.

For those unaware, Nokia has also reached a deal with Samsung in early 2023 and Apple in July. With Samsung, Apple, and now Honor on board, Nokia’s grip on the 5G patent landscape seems to be tightening.

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