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Lenovo and Motorola face sales ban in Germany over wireless patent dispute

Soumyakanti — Sat, 11 May 2024 11:23:25 +0000

Lenovo and its subsidiary Motorola Mobility are facing a significant legal challenge in Germany following a court ruling that has imposed a sales ban on their devices equipped with WWAN modules, essential for mobile internet connectivity. This drastic measure stems from a patent dispute with the American technology firm InterDigital. The Munich I District Court ruled in early May in favor of InterDigital, leading to an immediate enforcement of the ban after the plaintiff deposited a security deposit of four million euros.

Navigating Patent Challenges: Lenovo’s Sales Ban in Germany

The crux of the dispute revolves around the licensing terms for WWAN technology used in Lenovo’s products, including recently launched smartphone models such as the Edge 50 Ultra. These devices utilize technology for which InterDigital holds patents, and disagreements have arisen over the fees Lenovo should pay for their use. InterDigital claims that Lenovo has not met its demands for fair and reasonable licensing fees, which has led them to seek legal recourse. Lenovo, on the other hand, argues that InterDigital’s terms are not fair and plans to appeal the decision.

The court’s decision has led to immediate consequences for Lenovo’s operations in Germany. As of the ruling, Lenovo is prohibited from selling, offering, or importing any WWAN-enabled devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use mobile networks like GSM, UMTS, LTE, and 5G. This affects not only Motorola‘s smartphones but also Lenovo’s broader range of mobile-enabled devices.

For German consumers, the impact is gradually becoming apparent. Although Lenovo and Motorola Mobility have ceased listing the affected products on their German websites, some retailers continue to sell existing stock. Once these stocks deplete, however, potential shortages and delivery issues could occur.

This legal battle is not isolated but part of a broader pattern of disputes over so-called standard-essential patents, which are critical for key technological functionalities in mobile communications. The disagreements often hinge on the interpretation of what constitutes fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms—a matter still not clearly defined in European law.

This situation underscores ongoing tensions in global tech regarding patent licensing, with Germany becoming a focal point due to its plaintiff-friendly legal framework for patent litigation. This has significant implications for the tech industry, potentially affecting how companies negotiate licensing agreements and manage their intellectual property in key markets worldwide. While the ban is currently in place, history suggests that it is possible for companies to eventually reach a settlement that could mitigate the terms of the initial court ruling.

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Apple Watch import ban takes effect in U.S. following regulatory decision

Soumyakanti — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 15:22:10 +0000

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has enforced a ban on specific models of the Apple Watch, following a patent infringement dispute with Masimo, a health tech company. This decision affects the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, which are said to infringe on patents related to pulse oximetry technology used to measure blood oxygen levels.

ITC Enforces Ban on Apple Watch Models Over Masimo’s Pulse Oximetry Patents

Despite having a 60-day review period, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai upheld the ITC’s decision on December 26, 2023, making it final. Consequently, the import and sales of the affected Apple Watch models have been restricted in the United States. This comes after an October 2023 ruling by the ITC that found Apple guilty of infringing on two patents owned by Masimo and Cercacor Laboratories.

In response, Apple has filed an emergency request with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to temporarily halt the ban. The company argues that the ITC’s decision is incorrect and seeks a postponement of the ban until U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines if redesigned versions of the watches infringe Masimo’s patents. This decision is expected by January 12th.

Apple, which strongly opposes the ITC’s decision, has already removed the affected models from its official U.S. website. However, these models are still available through third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, which have existing stocks.

The entry-level Apple Watch SE model is not affected by this ban and continues to be available for sale. Apple’s legal strategies include potentially overcoming the issue with a software fix, though Masimo believes this wouldn’t circumvent their hardware-based patents.

This situation is notable as it’s the first time since 2013 that a U.S. presidential administration has not vetoed an ITC ruling involving Apple. The ban’s impact on Apple’s wearables, home, and accessories sector, which generated $8.28 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2023, remains to be seen.

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EU considers mandatory ban on Huawei for 5G networks

Soumyakanti — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 13:15:49 +0000

The European Union is considering a mandatory ban on the use of Huawei in its 5G networks. The move comes as a response to increasing concerns in Brussels about the security risks posed by the Chinese company.

In 2020, the EU said member-states could restrict or exclude Huawei from core parts of their telecoms networks, but resisted pressure from the United States for an outright ban. However, the EU’s internal market commissioner Thierry Breton told telecoms ministers last Friday that only a third of EU countries had implemented Huawei bans in critical areas.

Security Concerns Prompt EU’s Actions

To address this issue and compensate for the guidance falling short of a ban in 2020, the EU may introduce a mandatory ban on companies deemed to pose security risks. Germany, in particular, has been considering banning certain components from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in its telecoms network, according to a government source.

The move by the EU is a significant development in the ongoing battle between the United States and China for dominance in the global 5G market. The United States has long argued that Huawei poses a security risk due to its close ties to the Chinese government, and has urged its allies to ban the company from their 5G networks. China has denied these allegations and has accused the United States of trying to stifle its economic growth.

The EU’s decision to consider a mandatory ban on Huawei is a sign that the bloc is taking the security risks posed by the company seriously. However, it remains to be seen whether the EU will be able to reach a consensus on the issue, or whether member-states will continue to take different approaches.

The EU’s decision on Huawei is likely to be closely watched by other countries around the world. The United States, Australia, and Japan have already banned Huawei from their 5G networks, and other countries are considering similar measures. The EU’s decision could set a precedent for other countries and could have a significant impact on the global 5G market.

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Indian government bans 14 mobile apps used for terror activities

Soumyakanti — Tue, 02 May 2023 14:01:43 +0000

The Indian government has banned 14 mobile apps after intelligence agencies reported that these apps were being used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and spread terror propaganda. This move comes in compliance with Section 69A of the country’s IT law, which empowers the government to block access to any information that is considered a threat to national security.

Credit: Reuters

The apps that were banned on May 1st do not have representatives in India, making it difficult to track down activities happening on the app. This move brings the total number of banned apps to 288, with the previous bans targeting apps with connections to China, which the government deemed prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity.

The banned apps include popular messaging and chat applications such as IMO, Element, and Threema, as well as file-sharing and storage apps such as Mediafire. The ban also includes apps that offer end-to-end encryption, such as Enigma, Wickrme, and Crypviser, which are popular among privacy advocates.

List of 14 apps that are banned:

Crypviser
Enigma
Safeswiss
Wickrme
Mediafire
Briar
BChat
Nandbox
Conion
IMO
Element
Second line
Zangi
Threema

The government had previously banned 59 mobile apps in June 2020, 118 apps including PUBG Mobile in September 2020, 43 apps including AliExpress in November 2020, and 54 apps including Tencent-backed Garena’s Free Fire in February 2022. The bans on these apps were also made under Section 69A of the IT law, with the government citing national security concerns and threats to public order.

The ban on these apps is expected to be enforced soon, with Google and Apple notifying developers to remove them from their app stores. This move is part of the Indian government’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and preserve national security by regulating the use of mobile apps and other digital technologies.

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TikTok Faces Ban in Montana (US) as Legislature Passes Controversial Bill

Anubhav — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 03:47:34 +0000

TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and share short videos set to music or other audio. The app quickly became a global phenomenon, with over 1 billion active users worldwide. TikTok’s algorithm recommends videos to users based on their interests, making it a popular platform for discovering new content and trends. The app has also been the subject of controversy over privacy and security concerns, with the US constantly pressuring the owner of TikTok, Bytedance. As per the latest reports, the application is one signature away from being banned in a US State.

Montana is poised to become the first state to ban TikTok if Governor Greg Gianforte signs SB419, a bill that passed the state’s House by a 54-43 vote. If the bill is signed into law, TikTok will not be allowed to operate within the state, and app stores in Montana will be banned from offering it for download. The ban would go into effect in January 2022, but individuals who use TikTok in Montana would not be penalized.

The legislation cites concerns about TikTok’s “dangerous content” and “dangerous challenges,” as well as the potential for ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to be forced to turn over user data to the Chinese Communist Party. The bill has been criticized by some as vague and virtually unenforceable, while TikTok has hinted at a possible lawsuit, citing First Amendment protections.

Montana is not alone in seeking to restrict the use of TikTok. More than half of the 50 US states have expressed similar concerns about the app. ByteDance has responded to US government requests to spin off TikTok’s US operations by proposing “Project Texas,” which would create a firewall around US data. However, some lawmakers remain unsatisfied.

Critics of the Montana bill, including technology industry group NetChoice and the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that it sets a dangerous precedent for government control over internet use and violates the US Constitution. NetChoice called on Governor Gianforte to veto the bill, while the ACLU labelled it as censorship that would unjustly limit Montanans’ access to a platform for free expression.

As the controversy over TikTok’s ownership and content continues, it remains to be seen whether Montana’s ban will be the first of many or a one-of-a-kind case in the US.

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TikTok Banned On French Government Devices, Alongside Candy Crush

Anubhav — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 03:22:30 +0000

France has banned “recreational” apps such as TikTok, Twitter, Netflix, and Candy Crush from government employees’ devices due to cybersecurity concerns that could jeopardize data for both employees and the administration. The office of public service minister Stanislas Guerini made the announcement. While the government has not provided an exact list of banned apps, Guerini stated that there could be some exceptions for necessary communication purposes. The ban takes effect immediately, but the penalties for defying the rule will be decided at the “managerial level.” The policy does not affect personal devices (yet).

The rationale for the ban is not related to concerns about the Chinese government collecting data from TikTok, which has been the primary concern of other countries. Instead, it reflects a more general concern that entertainment apps could put government data at risk. The policy is not targeted at any particular country or app category.

France’s move follows similar bans on TikTok by the US federal government, dozens of states, Canada, the European Commission, and the UK, which all cited concerns that the Chinese government could collect data about important individuals, spread propaganda, and compel TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to hand over sensitive information. TikTok has denied collaborating with the Chinese government and has insisted that American user data will not be accessible to staff in other countries by the end of this year’s migration project.

The French ban may be unwelcome news for employees who wish to use these apps during lunch, but it could also reassure politicians who worry that employees may inadvertently expose information through their social media accounts. It remains to be seen how strictly the ban will be enforced and what penalties, if any, will be imposed on those who defy it.

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UK, New Zealand Join US in Growing List of Countries to Ban TikTok From Government Devices

Anubhav — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 03:20:23 +0000

The United States, the UK, and New Zealand have joined a growing list of Western countries to ban the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform, TikTok, on government devices due to security concerns, according to The New York Times. The UK announced the immediate ban of TikTok on Thursday, citing the app’s ownership by a Chinese company as a security risk. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden referred to the ban as a “precautionary” measure, following similar steps taken by the US, Canada, India, and the European Union‘s executive arm.

The New York Times reported that social media apps collect and store vast amounts of user data, including contacts, user content, and geolocation data, which can be sensitive and vulnerable to compromise. Post-Covid, TikTok has aroused more suspicion than most because of its owner, ByteDance, a Chinese company.

British concerns reflect those expressed by other Western governments that TikTok may share sensitive data from devices used by politicians and senior officials with the Beijing government. On Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described China as an “epoch-defining challenge” to the international order.

The ban applies only to the official work phones of government officials, and Dowden emphasized that it was a proportionate approach to protect the sensitivity of government data. TikTok expressed disappointment with the British government’s decision, describing the ban as based on fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics. The company added that it was taking steps to protect British users’ data.

Despite the ban, several British government departments have TikTok accounts as part of their public outreach, including the defense ministry. The app was recently described as safe for British people to use by Michelle Donelan, the secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology.

Previously, the US threatened to ban TikTok from the country unless the app’s Chinese owners agree to spin off their share of the social media platform. TikTok’s Chief Executive, Shou Zi Chew, responded by stating that divesting the company from its Chinese owners doesn’t offer any more protection than a multibillion-dollar plan the company has already proposed, according to the Wall Street Journal.

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VLC Indian ban: VideoLan Issues Legal Notice to DoT and MeitY

Sudhanshu — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 05:24:13 +0000

Back in August, Indian authorities banned the official VLC media player website “www.videolan.org” across the country without an explanation for the ban. Now, VideoLAN, the publisher of the VLC media player, has issued a legal notice to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeiTY) in India.

After the ban, MeiTY received a Right to Information (RTI) request from VideoLAN with assistance from the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF). MeiTY answered by stating that they do not have any information regarding the ban. According to IFF, VideoLAN was not provided a warning or an opportunity to be heard. After that, VideoLAN has now sent these two government organizations a legal notice.

Although the government hasn’t provided any information or justification for why the VLC website was blocked in the nation, it has been reported that the government forbade downloading VLC from the program’s official website because some cybersecurity experts asserted that a hacker group called Cicada, based in China, used VLC to distribute malware. According to reports, the Chinese government supported the strike. Over the years, the hacker group has accumulated notoriety for attacking NGOs.

VLC Media Player website banned in India – what we know so far

Sudhanshu — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 06:24:03 +0000

VideoLan Client or VLC for short is one of the most used software for playing videos on PC and other devices like Android and iOS. Its specialty is the wide range of supported codecs and the highly versatile interface.

Now, according to a recent report, the VideoLAN Project’s VLC media player has allegedly been banned in India. The ban was reportedly issued earlier this year (around 13th February) in a silent manner, and neither VideoLAN nor the Indian authorities provided any information on the matter.

In accordance with the ban, ISPs have blocked the official VLC media player website “www.videolan.org” across the country. It’s worth noting that users can still get the media player from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, indicating that the ban hasn’t been fully implemented.

According to some reports, VLC Media Player has been banned in the country because the platform was used for cyber attacks by the alleged China-backed hacking group Cicada. Security experts discovered Cicada was using VLC Media Player to deploy a malicious malware loader as part of a long-running cyber attack campaign just a few months ago.

The situation is quite peculiar as the VideoLan Project team is based in Paris and has no apparent connections to China. Currently, there is no official word from the government of India or the VideoLan Project team regarding the alleged cyber attack. As for users, if you already have a VLC media player installed on your PC, it will continue to work as usual. For people looking to download the app, you can still access the mirror sites that are still available to access in India.

TikTok ban lifted in Pakistan after four months; company agrees to content moderation

Jeet — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 07:37:30 +0000

Pakistan’s media regulator, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has yet again lifted a ban imposed on TikTok after around four months. The move comes after the short video-sharing social media platform assured that it would control indecent content on the platform.

For those who are unaware, this is the fourth time in the past 15 months that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority imposed and lifted such a ban on TikTok. The platform was first blocked in October last year over what the regulator described as widespread complaints about allegedly “immoral, obscene, and vulgar” content on the app.

A statement issued by PTA said: “Subsequent to imposition of ban on 20 July 2021, PTA remained in communications with the TikTok management. As a result of continuous engagement, senior management of the platform assured PTA of its commitment to take necessary measures to control unlawful content in accordance with local laws and societal norms.”

Earlier this month, China-based TikTok and the PTA officials held a detailed discussion regarding content moderation on the social networking application in line with the local laws and societal norms.

In the meeting, the company highlighted initiatives, future strategies, and investments in the local market for ensuring safe, productive, informative, and legitimate content for Pakistani users. The app has been downloaded almost 39 million times in Pakistan.

TikTok has been banned in India since June last year along with a host of Chinese applications by the government. The app, which had about 200 million users at the time it was banned in India, is hoping to re-enter the Indian market.

Despite facing a ban in India and going thorugh a legal battle in the United States, ByteDance-owned TikTok became the highest-grossing application globally in the year 2020 with $540 million in profit.

Russia threatens to ban YouTube, calls for “zero tolerance”

Sean — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 07:47:48 +0000

Earlier this week, Russia threatened to ban YouTube as the popular video sharing platform removed the Russian state backed broadcaster RT’s German language channels from its website. This urged the Kremlin to call for ‘zero tolerance’ towards the online platform.

According to a Reuters report, the online video streaming platform, owned by Alphabet Inc, has deleted the state backed broadcaster RT’s channels on Tuesday. YouTube stated that the channel was removed from its website as it breached its COVID-19 misinformation policy. Furthermore, the company also added that it would block all anti vaccine content from its platform as well. This marks its expansion outside of just Coronavirus, and includes content that alleges vaccines cause chronic health effects or other form of misinformation regarding the vaccines.

On the other hand, Russia stated that it was considering retaliating against German media and also accused YouTube of “unprecedented information aggression” over the deletion of the RT channels. This also marks the spark of new friction between the Russian government and a tech giant. Russian state communications regulator Roskomnadzor stated that it has written to Google and demanded that YouTube should lift the restrictions on RT channels.

If the company fails to comply, then the government could partially or fully restrict access to YouTube in the region. As of right now, Google has declined to comment on the matter. Additionally, the government could also impose other measures to ensure YouTube complies with its laws, as per Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He further added that “There should certainly be zero tolerance for this kind of breaking of the law.”

India considers cryptocurrency ban amid spike in digital asset investments: Report

Sean — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:19:27 +0000

Certain lawmakers in India are considering presenting a bill that will ban the ownership of cryptocurrencies in the country. This news arrives as the region sees a surge in investment in digital assets.

According to a PRS Legislative Research report, the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill proposal from the legislators have been listed for introduction in the Indian Parliament for consideration and passing. Furthermore, this proposal will also seek to facilitate the creation of India’s central bank digital currency or CDBC while placing a ban on private crypto ownership in the country. Although, this bill would also provide certain exceptions for coins that promote the underlying technology of cryptocurrency and its uses.

As of right now, the bill is slated to be presented during the Parliament’s Monsoon Session, which is set to begin on 19th July 2021. Previously, we had reported on the Indian government possibly banning cryptocurrencies and the latest news arrives amid a massive boom of digital assets investment in India. In May 2021 alone, Indians had reportedly invested 6.60 billion US Dollars in cryptocurrencies, marking a 615 percent rise from just 923 million US Dollars from April 2020.

Nirmala Sitharamanm Union Finance Minister stated that a lot of work has been done for the proposed bill, which includes feedback and views from stakeholders. He further added that “The Cabinet note is ready. We have to see when the Cabinet can take it up and consider it so that then we can move it. From our side, I think one or two indications that I have given is that at least for fintech, experiment and pilot projects a window will be available. The Cabinet will have to take a decision.”

Vivo phones embargoed by Hong Kong Airline after phone catches fire

Jeet — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 06:53:32 +0000

Hong Kong Airlines has embargoed all shipments of Vivo mobile phones after one consignment of the company carrying the Vivo Y20 model caught fire at the Hong Kong airport a couple of days back.

In an internal communication on 11th April, accessed by Economic Times, the Hong Kong Air Cargo Carrier said, “We regret to inform you that the latest update of the embargo with immediate effect, all cargo is forbidden to accept the “CargoLink Logistics HK Co Ltd” and “Sky Pacific Logistics HK Co Ltd” and/or co-loader on carriage by RH/HX aircraft until further notice. Also embargo all types of “VIVO” mobile phone.”

Currently, it is only one airline but if more or all airlines follow the suit of banning Vivo cargos, it may cause damage to brand imagery especially when the company is spending top dollars in markets likes India for branding. It also recently hired cricketer Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador.

For those who are unaware, the company is the title sponsor for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), a cricket tournament, which is among the world’s largest sports leagues. It remains to be seen if this recent ban impacts the company’s operations in India. Vivo is also making smartphones in India.

A few years ago, in 2017, Samsung had to recall all the units of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, and the company suffered the loss of millions of dollars. Several handsets of the model were reported to explode because of battery-related issues.

Signal, an encrypted messaging app, seems to be blocked in China

Jeet — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 10:16:41 +0000

Signal, one of the most popular encrypted messaging applications, has stopped working in China and is now only accessible using a virtual private network (VPN). It appears that the Chinese government has blocked access to the app.

This is not surprising given that China is known for blocking access to foreign apps and services. Products from tech giants like Google and Facebook are already blocked in China through the so-called Great Firewall.

While the Signal app is still available to download through Apple‘s App Store in China, messages sent by the users don’t go through, suggesting that the access has been blocked by the authorities. Not just the app, it appears that the website has also been banned.

Signal application getting blocked in China highlights the increasing internet censorship. The app got a huge surge in users recently when Facebook updated the privacy policy for WhatsApp and users started shifting towards Signal and Telegram.

It was one of the few Western social networks that remained accessible in China without the use of a virtual private network. But the app seems to have reached a substantial userbase in China and has caught the authorities’ attention.

Turkey enforces advertising ban on Twitter, Pinterest, and Periscope

Sean — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 07:49:54 +0000

Turkey has just imposed a ban on advertising on certain popular social media platforms. This includes the likes of Twitter, Pinterest, and Periscope, which faced the ban by the country’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority.

According to a Reuters report, the advertising ban arrives after the government recently passed a new social media law. For those unaware, the new law requires social media tech giant firms to appoint a local representative in Turkey. At the moment, Facebook and a few other companies have stated that they would be complying with the local law and appoint such a representative. Although, critics have stated that this move will restrain dissent.

Similar to Facebook, other major platforms like YouTube have also decided to appoint a representative. The new decision adopted in the Official Gazette went into effect earlier today (19h January 2021). However, Twitter and its live streaming application Periscope have yet to comment on the matter, which is also true for the image sharing app Pinterest. The new law will allow the authorities to remove content from social media platforms rather than just block access to them, like in the past.

This has raised concerns for many regarding the government’s move of restricting content and tightening the grip around online platforms and mainstream media as well. Turkey has already fined companies like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter for not complying with local laws previously, with failure to comply now would have the firms face a bandwidth slash of 90 percent, which basically completely blocks access to their websites.

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Trump bans eight Chinese apps in the US, including Alipay and WeChat Pay

Jeet — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 04:39:25 +0000

President of the United States, Donald Trump, who lost the election and is set to leave office in a couple of weeks, has signed an executive order banning transactions with eight Chinese applications, including Alipay and WeChat Pay.

Interestingly, the order is set to take effect in 45 days, after Donald Trump leaves office. The applications banned with this executive order includes apps from some of the biggest companies like Ant Group and Tencent.

In an attempt to justify the ban, Trump said that the applications can access private information from users and could be used by the Chinese government to “track locations of Federal employees and contractors, and build dossiers of personal information.”

Several US-based companies, including Apple, Ford Motor, Walmart, and Walt Disney previously objected to an executive order by Donal Trump that banned Tencent’s WeChat as well as ByteDance’s TikTok. A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the ban on WeChat.

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As noted above, the executive order bans Alipay, a payments application from Ant Group with more than a billion users. It also bans three applications from Tencent, which includes WeChat Pay, QQWallet, and Tencent QQ. Other apps in the list include CamScanner, SHAREit, Vmate, and WPS Office.

The move seems to be furthering the US-China trade war which started when Donald Trump issued an executive order banning China-based Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest telecom equipment manufacturer.

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TikTok and WeChat ban in the US breaks WTO rules, claims China

Jeet — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 06:36:25 +0000

Ever since the Trump administration announced a ban on ByteDance-backed TikTok and Tencent’s WeChat apps in the United States, there has been an on-going legal battle that has so far prevented the ban to go into effect.

Now, China is claiming that the ban on these two apps by the United States is in violation of the World Trade Organization’s rules, reports Reuters. And it’s not just the US, China has also accused India of the same for banning TikTok and several other Chinese apps.

At the Council for Trade in Services meeting at the World Trade Organization, China took the floor to accuse the USA and India of taking measures that are “inconsistent with WTO rules, restrict cross-border trading services and violate the basic principles and objectives of the multilateral trading system.”

During the lengthy exchange at the council, China said that there was no evidence to support the claims by the United States and India regarding data collection and it added that TikTok’s data collection is standard practice by thousands of apps worldwide. It also described the failure of the U.S. for providing concrete evidence of the reasons for its measures a “clear abuse” of rules.

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Last month, the Trump administrator ordered to ban the downloads of TikTok and WeChat in the United States and stop all the transactions with those two companies. It has also ordered ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US-based company by 14th November in order to avoid a ban in the US.

However, a U.S. judge has questioned the government’s claim of national security and has agreed to temporarily block the ban on the app. In order to avoid getting banned in the United States, ByteDance has agreed to set up a new entity called TikTok Global with 80 percent of the stake. The remaining stake will be acquired by Oracle and Walmart.

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Court blocks Trump administration’s ban on TikTok in the United States

Jeet — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 08:39:37 +0000

Last week, TikTok had asked a Judge in the United States to block the order from the Trump administration from banning the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store and the company’s request has been accepted.

Judge Carl Nichols of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has temporarily blocked an order from the Trump administration that would have banned TikTok from being downloaded from U.S. app stores.

In a statement released to the media, the company said: “We’re pleased that the court agreed with our legal arguments and issued an injunction preventing the implementation of the TikTok app ban. We will continue defending our rights for the benefit of our community and employees. At the same time, we will also maintain our ongoing dialogue with the government to turn our proposal, which the President gave his preliminary approval to last weekend, into an agreement.”

Unlike the recent block on the ban of WeChat in the United States, this order related to TikTok doesn’t block the broader ban on the app which is set to come into effect from 12th November in the U.S.

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The U.S. Department of Commerce had announced earlier this month that TikTok would be removed from U.S. app stores on 20th September. However, it was delayed by a week to 27th September because of the on-going talks about the app’s acquisition.

In order to avoid getting banned in the United States, ByteDance has agreed to set up a new entity called TikTok Global with 80 percent of the stake. The remaining stake will be acquired by Oracle and Walmart.

While Oracle will take 12.5 percent stake, Walmart will be taking a 7.5 percent stake as well as a seat on the board. Donald Trump has already approved the deal but it remains to be seen if the Chinese government has any say related to this development.

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Court blocks Trump administration’s ban on WeChat in the United States

Jeet — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:59:28 +0000

The Trump administration recently confirmed that the Tencent-backed WeChat and ByteDance’s TikTok will be banned in the United States from 20th September. It also blocked all the transactions to WeChat from the same day while broader restrictions for TikTok were related till November because of the on-going negotiations.

Now, in a major relief, a judge has blocked the ban on WeChat just as the restrictions were about to go into effect. U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler said in an order that WeChat users, who filed a lawsuit, “have shown serious questions going to the merits of the First Amendment claim, the balance of hardships tips in the plaintiffs’ favor.”

The ruling also temporarily halts the ban on transactions for the application in the United States. This is a major setup for President Donald Trump who has labeled the service as a national security threat, just as election date nears.

In her order, Judge Laurel Beeler said that she had chosen to grant the motion because of some serious questions raised by the plaintiffs about the harm of First Amendment rights. The plaintiffs had also argued that the ban would shut down the primary means of communication for the Chinese community.

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The lawsuit was filed by the U.S. WeChat Users Alliance, which says that it has no connection with Tencent or its affiliates. The group argues that the ban violates several constitutional provisions, including the right to free speech, due process, and equal protection against arbitrary discrimination.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has approved the deal of TikTok with Oracle and Walmart where both the American companies will take up a minority stake in TikTok Global while the Chinese group will continue to hold the majority stake.

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Tencent is working to ensure continued availability of its apps in India

Jeet — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 06:24:58 +0000

The Indian government had banned 59 Chinese applications in the country in June this year and then added 48 more apps to the list. Just a couple of days ago, India banned 118 more apps, including the popular PUBG Mobile game.

Although the reason behind banning Chinese apps in the market seems to be political, the Indian government is citing privacy and security as the reason behind banning China-origin applications in the country.

Now, to ensure continued availability of its applications, Tencent Holdings said that it would engage with the Indian authorities, reports Reuters. It has also added that the company takes the protection of user privacy and data seriously.

For those who are unaware, Tencent is the parent company behind the widely popular PUBG and PUBG Mobile game. Not only in India, but PUBG is also one of the most popular Battle Royale games around the globe.

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The game is available for mobile phones, Xbox console as well as for Windows PC. It is extremely popular in India, especially among the youths with India ranking as having the highest number of downloads globally.

So, it makes sense for Tencent to take some action to ensure that it doesn’t lose access to one of the most important markets. The ban on apps seems to only cover new downloads and apparently works fine if they are already installed on a smartphone.

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Apple pushes back against WeChat ban, Chinese users would rather give up iPhone than the app: Survey

Sean — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 07:47:09 +0000

Recently, we had reported on the Trump administration banning the WeChat app, a popular Chinese social media platform. This new US sanction would force Apple to remove the app from its App Store, which was expected to cause it to lose a significant part of its sales in China. Now, a new report reveals that Apple plans to push back on the ban while a survey found that 95 percent of Chinese users would rather give up iPhone than lose WeChat.

At the moment, it is unknown if the ban on the WeChat app is strictly restricted to just the US App Store or the global one. Tencent, the parent company of WeChat, stated that it believed that the ban is only applicable in the US but is seeking clarity. The cause for this unsure atmosphere around the new order is due to its vague working, which states banning any transaction related to WeChat.

According to a Bloomberg survey, 95 percent of the 1.2 million Chinese Apple users said that they would rather switch to an Android device than use an iPhone without WeChat. A HongKong user stated that banning WeChat would make an iPhone into “electronic trash.” Another stated that his “family in China are all used to WeChat and all our communication is on the platform.”

A Wall Street Journal report also revealed that over a dozen companies including Apple, Ford, Walmart, and Disney are pushing back against the ban. In a call to the White House, the known brands detailed the adverse consequences that a ban on WeChat would have on their businesses. With WeChat being used to payments, e-commerce and marketing as well, Tencent stated that any device without it would be “extremely hard to sell” in China.

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U.S. puts Chinese apps on notice amid TikTok acquisition talks

Jeet — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 06:05:55 +0000

Microsoft recently confirmed that the company is in talks with TikTok for acquiring its business in the United States. It also confirmed that the company is aiming to close the deal by 15th September, as mandated by the U.S. government.

Now, it seems that the issue isn’t just related to TikTok and the United States is planning to take action against other applications. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that action will be taken against WeChat and “countless” Chinese software companies.

He said that action will be taken against Chinese companies that pose a national security threat to America. However, it’s noteworthy that the United States has not yet provided any substantial proof of security-related issues by Chinese apps in question.

In an interview with Fox News, Mike Pompeo said: “These Chinese software companies doing business with the United States, whether it’s TikTok or WeChat, there are countless more … are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party their national security apparatus. It could be their facial recognition pattern, it could be information about their residence, their phone numbers, their friends who they’re connected to… Those are the issues President Trump’s made clear we’re going to take care of. He will take action in the coming days with respect to a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party.”

TikTok has repeatedly denied that it could be used by the Chinese government as the company’s U.S. user data is already stored on US-based servers and backed up in Singapore, so it is not subject to Chinese law.

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If the acquisition deal goes through, then Microsoft says that it would ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users will remain in the U.S. After the acquisition, Microsoft will own and operate the short view social media platform in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

However, Microsoft has added that there was no certainty that a deal would be reached. It is being reported that ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming and investors of the company are reluctant to sell the U.S. business.

The United States isn’t the only country that is threatening action against the Chinese applications citing privacy and security risks. Recently, India banned TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps as tensions regarding the India-China border dispute rises.

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New US regulation banning Huawei and others could affect over 800 Japanese companies

Jeet — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 06:19:45 +0000

Amid the ongoing US-China trade war, the U.S. government has been putting new sanctions on Huawei since effectively banning the company in May last year after it was put on the Entity List.

Now, a report coming from Nikkei claims that the United States will be imposing a ban for federal procurement from businesses that use products from Huawei Technologies and four other China-based companies over security concerns.

U.S. agencies will not be able to sign or renew contracts with companies that use products or services from Huawei, ZTE, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Zhejiang Dahua Technology, and Hytera Communications.

The new regulations, which go into effect from 13th August, will require companies bidding for the federal contracts to certify that they do not use banned products from the above mentioned Chinese companies.

The move will reportedly affect more than 800 Japanese companies, which include U.S. subsidiaries that have direct federal contracts as well as Japan-based enterprises that deal with American forces stationed in the Asian country.

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It remains unclear how the United States government is defining the “use” of products. There’s also a possibility that the ban may soon be expanded to cover affiliates, subsidiaries, and parents of contractors.

The companies have two choices — either do business with the U.S. government or with the major suppliers. So far, it seems that companies are choosing to continue doing business with the United States.

Companies like Nippon Telegraph & Telephone, NTT Data, SoftBank Group, and Kajima have said that they will ensure compliance with this new regulation and will refrain from using products and services from the likes of Huawei and ZTE.

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China: Selective Indian Ban of TikTok and other Chinese apps is against WTO rules

Sean — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 08:29:26 +0000

Earlier this week, the Indian government had banned 59 Chinese smartphone applications. This ban included popular social media apps like TikTok and more. Now, Ji Rong, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, has said in a statement that China “firmly opposed” this decision and it is a “violation of World Trade Organisation rules.”

TikTok and 58 other apps banned by the Indian Government

Back in Monday, India had banned these 59 applications that included WeChat, TikTok, Helo, and others due to alleged threats they pose to the country’s “sovereignty and security.” Popular apps like ShareIT, UC Browser, CamScanner, Shein, and Club Factory were also on this list, with the ban being imposed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.

Ji Rong stated that “We expect India acknowledges the mutually beneficial nature of China-India economic and trade cooperation, and urge the Indian side to change its discriminatory practices, maintain the momentum of China-India economic and trade cooperation, treat all investments and service providers equally, and create an open, fair and just business environment while bearing in mind the fundamental interests of both sides and the overall interests of bilateral relations.”

While China’s stance is against this move, the Indian government has claimed that these applications are engaged in activities that are “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” In other words, they pose a risk to its citizens, in regard to data security and privacy. Notably, the ban arrives shortly after recent military clashes along the Indo-Chinese borders. Friction has been increasing in the region and recent casualties have stirred anti-Chinese sentiments in the country.

(Via)

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US Officials ground Drones fearing Chinese Espionage

Sean — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 08:54:18 +0000

Following Huawei being caught in the crossfires of the US-China trade disputes, drones have now become another area that is facing scrutiny by the US Government. Allegedly, Drones that are manufactured or belong to Chinese brands could potentially be used to spy in the US, according to Government officials.

Drones have been increasing in popularity in the US and it is not just limited to cinematography or plain entertainment. They can be highly useful in real world scenarios as well. The best example being the volcano eruption in Hawaii back in May 2018, where a drone was used by US scientists to save a man from the lava by asking him to follow the drone to make it out of a jungle.

A drone from DJI, a renowned brand in unmanned drones and videography equipments

Examples such as these are indicative of the wide range of application and usefulness unmanned drones bring to the table. However, what about “espionage?” is the question the US Government is asking. With the increasing rivalry between the US and the east, namely China, the western nation is scrutinizing every avenue that the Chinese have a foothold in. One of these is the commercially available drones that are widely sold in the US.

DJI or Da Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Company is one of the market leaders in videography equipment and unmanned drones. Its offerings are used both for entertainment and to access areas for scientific research as well. But the company isn’t alone as even more Chinese drone manufacturers are seeking to enter the US market in the near future. These drones are also seeing an increase in adoption in various Government departments and have become a cause for worry for David Bernhardt, the Head of a Federal agency.

DJI Mavic Pro OcuSync

According to Bernhardt, these drones are currently under evaluation and review, which is an effort being made to deem their safety for being used in the nation. Furthermore, during this process, all drones made in China are grounded, as reported by the BBC network. Notably, crucial areas like drones used in fire fighting and to help rescue people are still allowed to fly.

Chinese analysts see US policies that hamper the operations of companies from China as a form of protectionism. In other words, the US is actively against foreign MNCs gaining a large market share within its nation. However, despite all of these allegations and friction, the US and Chinese leaders are well on their way to sign a trade deal to recuperate the ailing relations between the two.

(Via)

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A US State wants to Ban smartphone use by people under the age of 21

Sean — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 08:37:35 +0000

According to a new report, a bill has been introduced in a State in the US which seeks to ban the use of cell phones for anyone under the age of 21.

On Tuesday (7th January 2020), the State of Vermont introduced a bill by Democratic Senator, John Rodgers, which sought to prohibit cell phone usage by age. The Government official stated that people under the age of 21 “are not developmentally mature enough” to use mobile phones safely.

To supplement this bill, major harmful incidents like car crashes and cyber bullying among teens were brought up as the need for the proposed act; since cell phone is reportedly one of the leading reasons for teenage deaths in the US, while smartphones are most likely to be used by teenagers to engage in bullying and threatening activities and by its extension even suicides.

According to the bill, a person found to be in possession or using a cell phone will be fined by $1,000 and be punished with jail time up to a year if they are under 21 years of age. The bill also mentions maturity as a factor as people under 21 can not legally smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol or possess guns and wish to include smartphones within the same category.

Currently, no US state has passed a bill on the minimum age for cell phone ownership but has strict laws in place for smoking, drinking and firearms. Notably, John Rodgers admitted that he expects the bill not to pass but brought it up regardless to bring attention towards firearms in the country.

(Via)

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US to apply new limits on hardware sales to Huawei

Airyl Jaszly — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 08:22:28 +0000

The US government is weighing new limits on sales of chips and other vital components to Huawei, sparking another furious round of lobbying by technology companies. Industry associations representing US chip makers, software companies and manufacturers have written to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in recent weeks arguing against the changes, according to copies obtained by Bloomberg News.

Some U.S. companies have continued selling to Huawei even after the blacklisting, citing rules that limit the government’s ability to restrict exports. De minimis provisions exempt certain products if companies can prove the majority of work done to create the items happens outside the U.S. The current threshold effectively kicks in when 75% of the work occurs overseas.

The administration is considering raising that to 90%, and broadening the list of products, people familiar with the discussions said. The change could come as soon as January, added the people, who asked not to be identified discussing policy deliberations. This will obviously put a cork on the current loophole, effectively reducing Huawei’s presence.

U.S. tech companies have already struggled to comply with the original Huawei ban, while keeping access to the Chinese market, the largest in the world. The government in Beijing has threatened to retaliate against companies that stop supporting Huawei, resulting in just a very messy situation all around.

In November, the Commerce Department said it started approving some applications for licenses to do business with Huawei, while rejecting others. It characterized the approvals as “narrow.” Microsoft Corp. got a license. It’s unclear which other companies got approved and how the decisions were made, but it’d be great if these got streamlined quicker.

(Source)

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Huawei Banned From Accessing Sensitive Information by Spain’s Ministry of Defense

Sean — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 10:54:52 +0000

Amidst plans of expanding in Europe, Huawei is facing yet another ban. This time, The smartphone manufacturer is facing complications with Spain’s Ministry of Defense. It arrives after the US ban, which occurred during the US-China trade disputes, that had seen the company being placed on the ‘Entity List’ by the US Commerce Department.

To clarify, the Chinese tech giant is not banned from selling their smartphones to its Spanish customers. Although, the company’s devices have their access banned from the Spanish Government’s data servers which incudes employee emails. According to the report, a few members of the Ministry of Defense are still allowed to retain their Huawei handset for personal use but have been specifically instructed to use other devices to access data from the Ministry’s data servers (like emails). Members that are still using the Huawei smartphones to access such data must ‘immediately disconnect.’

Unlike the US which accused Huawei of espionage, Spain did not cite the exact reason for the ban. However, the reasons might be similar if they are considering the prevention of sensitive data leaks. Furthermore, a spokesperson from Huawei went on record to say that the company had never faced any cyber-security related issues in the past 30 years of its operations in over 170 countries; and “security” is the highest priority of Huawei.

Huawei Mate X 5G

Although this arrives as a sour moment for the company, Huawei is still second in position in terms of smartphone shipments in Europe in Q3 of 2019. The company is seeing steady growth in the region and even more so in China.

(Source)

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US congressman claims China is strong-arming India into using Huawei 5G

Airyl Jaszly — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 05:34:03 +0000

China is “blackmailing” India into using Huawei for its 5G infrastructure, an influential U.S. Congressman alleged on Tuesday. The U.S. has banned Huawei, one of the leaders in 5G development, over concerns of security, and Washington has been putting pressure on other countries to restrict the operations of the Chinese telecom firm.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s been almost impossible to avoid the barrage of news regarding Huawei’s ban in the USA. The Trump administration has been asking all its allies and friends, including India, to block the entry of Huawei from using their 5G infrastructure, a next generation cellular technology with download speeds stated to be 10 to 100 times faster than the current 4G LTE networks.

Congressman Jim Banks claims that “China is now blackmailing India into using Huawei for its 5G infrastructure — they know no bounds!” He goes on to say that “(The Chinese Communist Party) moves to strong-arming countries into exposing themselves to surveillance and espionage.”

On the other hand, China on Tuesday made claims hoping that India would make an “independent and objective” judgement on permitting its telecom giant Huawei in 5G trials and services in the country.

India themselves haven’t had anything concrete to say. In October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host Chinese President Xi Jinping in the sacred Hindu city of Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency in northern India, where the two are expected to address trade issues including a US$53 billion trade deficit in 2018-19 that India is concerned about.

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Ashwani Mahajan, the head of the economic wing of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said there were concerns about the operations of Huawei in India.

“We as a country are not yet sure of relying on Huawei. Globally, the Chinese companies, including Huawei, are facing allegations that they ‘underbid’ projects, and position themselves and their establishment back home to snoop and enable them to shut remotely, if required be,” he wrote.

Senator Marsha Blackburn alleged that China, along with state-run company Huawei, is looking to push its spy embedded technology onto America and its allies. “We need to draw a hard line to protect our national security interests and intellectual property,” she said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that if a country adopts Huawei technology, the U.S. “won’t be able to share” information with them. “We won’t be able to work alongside them,” he said. For any updates on the situation, stay tuned here on Gizmochina.com.

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(Source)

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US tech executives to meet with White House regarding Huawei ban

Airyl Jaszly — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 11:40:36 +0000

U.S. officials including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow will host a meeting at the White House on Monday of semiconductor and software executives to discuss the U.S. ban on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, two sources briefed on the meeting said on Friday.

A White House official confirmed the meeting would take place, noting that Google and Micron would attend, but said it had been called to discuss economic matters. The subject of Huawei was expected “to come up but that it is not the reason why they are convening the meeting,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

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The Commerce Department added Huawei to a trade blacklist in May, saying it had “reasonable cause to believe” that the company was “involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.” As of late however, many have been questioning the decision, especially when it comes to the actual motives behind it.

Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross has said licenses would be issued where there is no threat to national security. Reuters reported that the United States may approve licenses for companies to restart new sales in a matter of weeks. Intel and Qualcomm declined to comment. Google, Micron, Microsoft and Broadcom did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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(Source)

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FedEx refuses to deliver Huawei phone from UK to US

Airyl Jaszly — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 05:36:35 +0000

The hits keep on coming for Huawei. After the infamous ban hit, numerous Huawei suppliers and partners around the world have ended relationships with the company. Now, you might not even be able to ship a Huawei phone reliably. PCMag tried to mail a P30 Pro from the UK to the US, and it was returned to sender because of the ongoing legal drama.

PCMag’s UK office had the P30 Pro on hand, and the New York office needed it. If this were any other phone, it would be a simple matter to ship it. However, PCMag’s staffer filled out the shipping form honestly and listed the phone’s model. The package left the UK via Parcelforce, a part of the Royal Mail system. FedEx got the package in the US, and five hours later it was back in the UK with a note blaming the US government action against Huawei.

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Following that, a FedEx customer service agent said this:

“On May 16, 2019, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and 68 of its global affiliates were included on the ‘Entity List’ which sets out a list of certain entities that US companies are restricted from doing business with. My apologies for the inconvenience this has caused you.”

A representative from Huawei replied to the conversation on Twitter, saying that FedEx has a “misinterpretation” of the executive order and entity list. We’re fully in agreement with Huawei on this one. There doesn’t seem to be any legal reason FedEx couldn’t deliver a Huawei phone. This is just an example of extreme risk avoidance—FedEx wants no part of something that has the word “Huawei” on it.

This is especially frustrating when you consider that UPS has no such problems with delivering Huawei devices. According to a company spokesperson, “There is not a general ban on shipping Huawei devices between United Kingdom and United States locations,”. UPS only prohibits shipping products to “69 selected Huawei locations,” all outside the US. In addition to this, all these countries are in a list in the May 21 issue of the Federal Register.

Neither FedEx or Parcelforce have given an official comment/response to this incident. It’s a real shame, and simply not very fair to Huawei or consumers. This really shouldn’t even be an issue, it’s ridiculous that we even need to mention it. We really hope FedEx does something to correct this in the future, as it stands it’s just annoying for consumers.

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(Source)

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Huawei ban will hurt UK’s mobile connectivity leadership and trade

Airyl Jaszly — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 07:49:15 +0000

United Kingdom mobile operators plan to warn the British government that a ban on Chinese telecommunications company Huawei would jeopardize the UK’s role as a leader in mobile connectivity. Several operators reportedly plan to send a letter to Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill asking the government to urgently clarify whether it intends to allow Huawei to bid for 5G contracts in Britain, according to the BBC

On top of this, China’s ambassador to London also warned the British government that if Huawei is blocked from developing 5G networks then it will hurt Chinese trade and investment relationship with the United Kingdom. “It will send a very bad message not only to Huawei but also to Chinese businesses,” Ambassador Liu Xiaoming told the BBC. He added blocking Huawei would lead to “bad effects not only on trade but also on investment.”

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What’s been done to improve the Huawei situation?

Britain’s National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Theresa May, met to discuss Huawei in April and a decision was made to block Huawei from all core parts of the 5G network but to give it restricted access to non-core parts.

A final decision by the British cabinet of senior ministers was due to have happened in recent weeks but May’s pledge to step down as prime minister has stalled the process, sources said. She is expected to be out of office by the end of July.

Until then, all we can really do is wait for an ultimatum. The company insists that it poses no security threat to any of its customers. Huawei says suggestions to the contrary are a smokescreen for frustrating China’s attempts to emerge as a leading designer and provider of high tech equipment, rather than assembling the nuts and bolts of technology designed in the US and Europe.

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(Source 1 | Source 2)

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Huawei wants Verizon to pay $1 billion for compensation

Airyl Jaszly — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 07:31:35 +0000

Huawei slapped a $1 billion compensation claim on US operator Verizon covering licensing fees for more than 230 of its patents. The Chinese vendor issued its claim in February, asking Verizon to cough up to “solve the patent licensing issue” which relates to core and wireless network gear, along with IoT equipment according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

Verizon doesn’t directly use Huawei equipment, but reportedly depends on 20 vendors that use Huawei technologies, and the Chinese company’s patent claim in this regard covers properties like network devices and wireless technology. According to sources that The New York Times talked to, on the condition of anonymity, the patent claims made by Huawei would amount to over $1 billion in total.

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Representatives for Huawei and Verizon met last week in New York to discuss some of the patents at issue. A Verizon spokesperson told the New York Times that the company had no comment on the matter, but added that “these issues are larger than just Verizon.” He also added, “Given the broader geopolitical context, any issue involving Huawei has implications for our entire industry and also raise national and international concerns.”

The United States last month put Huawei on a blacklist that barred it from doing business with U.S. companies on security grounds without government approval, prompting some global tech firms to cut ties with the world’s largest telecoms equipment maker. This has put a huge strain on the company, though they’ve been slowly recovering ground as of late.

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(Source)

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Huawei delays goal of being world’s number 1 smartphone maker

Airyl Jaszly — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 19:21:16 +0000

Huawei has been cruising pretty well in these trying times, but it’s clear the ban has taken some toll on them. A senior executive for the company came out during the CES Asia technology show and gave us a glimpse into the status of the company. According to him, Huawei’s plans to become the top smartphone manufacturer in the world may have to wait.

We would have become the largest in the fourth quarter (of this year) but now we feel that this process may take longer,” said Shao Yang, chief strategy officer of Huawei Consumer Business Group, without elaborating on reasons. He also claimed that Huawei currently still sells 500,000 to 600,000 smartphones a day in a speech at the CES Asia technology show in Shanghai.

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Huawei may be in a pretty bad spot at the moment, but things aren’t all bad. They’ve been pushing for more developers to put their apps on the Huawei AppGallery, and their upcoming OS is also in the works. It’s still nothing great, but it could be much worse for the company right now. As for how long Huawei can keep this up, we’re not sure.

Earlier this year, the beleaguered Chinese manufacturer overtook Apple as world number two and said it believed it would overtake Samsung “earliest this year, and next year at the latest.” This was despite the fact it has effectively been frozen out of the US market on national security grounds.

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(Source)

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IEEE Forced to Ban Huawei Employees From Peer-Reviewing Papers

Airyl Jaszly — Wed, 29 May 2019 12:41:15 +0000

Huawei may be trudging through the storm, but the onslaught continues. Earlier today, researchers at the IEEE received emails telling them that Huawei employees are banned from peer-reviewing papers. The email claims “we cannot use colleagues from Huawei as reviewers or Editors for the peer-review process of our journals,”.

This is absolutely huge for a large number of reasons. For those not in the know, the IEEE is short for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It’s an organization of engineers, scientists, and students. They’re best known for developing standards for the computer and electronics industry. This news is shocking because up to this point, Huawei has always been one of the key players in the Institute.

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Huawei has joined 177 standards organizations and open source organizations, and has held 183 key positions, serving on the board of directors of IEEE-SA, ETSI, WFA, and other organizations. They have members who hold high positions in there. They’ve even hosted the IEEE P2413 working group meeting in Shenzhen to promote the IEEE smart city standard process. This is already beginning to shock some people in the academic world.

Professor Zhihua Zhou of Nanjing University expressed his shock to hear the news. The IEEE is an international organization registered in the United States instead of an American organization. This means it has no right to ban the editors from peer-reviewing papers due to political motivations. He suggested that “experts from all levels of management at the IEEE should propose to the IEEE to transfer its registration to Switzerland.”

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(Source)

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Huawei wants US courts to declare Trump federal ban unconstitutional

Airyl Jaszly — Wed, 29 May 2019 05:43:05 +0000

The US legislation barring its federal agencies from buying Huawei products is “not normal”, and using this as an excuse “will do nothing to make networks more secure”. This came from currently under-fire Chinese company’s chief legal officer Song Liuping earlier today during a briefing held for media in Huawei’s Shenzhen headquarters.

According to Song, “The fact is, the US government has provided no evidence to show that Huawei is a security threat. There is no gun, no smoke. Only speculation,”. Song goes on to say “We believe that U.S. politicians are using cyber security as an excuse to gain public support for actions that are designed to achieve other goals. These actions will do nothing to make networks more secure,”.

“They are using every tool they have, including legislative, administrative, and diplomatic channels. They want to put us out of business. This is not normal. Almost never seen in history,”

“The judicial system is the last line of defense for justice. Huawei has confidence in the independence and integrity of the US judicial system. We hope that mistakes in the NDAA can be corrected by the court,” Song added. So far, we have no reason to doubt or disagree with Huawei’s reasons and actions.

Huawei has repeatedly denied it is controlled by the Chinese government, military or intelligence services. Yet, the company has since faced even greater sanctions as the U.S. commerce department on May 16 put the firm on a trade blacklist that bans companies from doing business with Huawei, in a move which immediately disrupted the global tech sector.

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How has the ban affected Huawei?

The trade ban, which restricts the company’s access to critical hardware, software and services from American hi-tech companies like Qualcomm, Google and Microsoft is suffocating Huawei. They rely on a variety of US technologies to keep their businesses running. Even many companies that aren’t associated with the US like ARM Holdings and Panasonic have begun avoiding trade Huawei, further worsening the issue.

Also as a result of the ban, Huawei has been forced to introduce further fragmentation into the smartphone market with their own upcoming OS in the works. Android and iOS’ monopolization of the mobile market may be staggering, but it also meant unified connectivity across most mobile devices. With this, we’ve now regressed back once again.

On this, Song said the addition of Huawei to the US Commerce Department’s Entity List “sets a dangerous precedent”. He said: “Today it’s telecoms and Huawei. Tomorrow it could be your industry, your company, your consumers.”

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(Source)

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Panasonic confirms continued support for Huawei

Airyl Jaszly — Fri, 24 May 2019 04:22:53 +0000

Japanese electronics firm Panasonic said on Thursday it has halted the shipment of some components to Huawei and has stopped all business transactions with the firm following the now storied US ban on Huawei. At least, that’s what we thought, as the company has since decided backtracked on that statement, and will continue to supply parts to the embattled Chinese company.

Panasonic sent out an internal notification that it would suspend transactions with Huawei and its 68 affiliates that were banned by the US government. After scrutinising whether it was in breach of US sanctions by continuing to operate with Huawei however, Panasonic announced it would trade as normal with the Chinese company. “Huawei has always been an important partner with Panasonic Corp,” it said in a statement.

“We will continue to sell commodities and provide service to our Chinese clients like Huawei, according to the law and regulations of the country and region which Panasonic Corp is located. By helping China, we will help our business grow in China too.”

Huawei also released a statement thanking Panasonic for its consistent support.

“Panasonic is an important partner of Huawei and the two sides work closely together in various fields,” it said. “All business cooperation between Panasonic and Huawei remains in continuous and normal progress. Thanks to Panasonic for its consistent support to Huawei. At the same time, we would like to thank all the global supplier partners who have supported Huawei’s business development over the long time.”

Even through these slew of massive setbacks, Huawei has yet to truly topple over. It’s quite shocking to see how well they’ve held up, but until we get concrete proof that Huawei can survive well, it’ll still be quite worrisome to watch. For more news on the Huawei ban, stay tuned here on Gizmochina.com.

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(Source)

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More bad news for Huawei: Europe may bar Huawei equipment

Airyl Jaszly — Wed, 22 May 2019 05:46:16 +0000

Things were looking up for Huawei, but now they maybe be going straight back into the ground. Fresh off the US ban on Huawei, the US is now claiming that Europe may be coming around to the alleged threat presented by Huawei‘s equipment. While Europe nations won’t ban Huawei, they may be planning to bar Huawei’s equipment from their next-generation telecom networks.

This is crushing news for Huawei, and presents another blow to the progression of 5G technology. It also represents a win for the Trump administration whom have been warning others against using Huawei equipment in their 5G systems. No European countries that are supporting the bar have been officially named, so nothing’s really set in stone yet.

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While Huawei may have a ton of backup plans regarding the US market, we wonder how they’ll deal with this bit of Europe news. It’s a shame that this is happening at all, though there’s not really all that much that can be done. As of right now, Huawei’s US ban has been delayed for 90 days to allow the company to recoup.

If Huawei finds a way to turn all this bad news around, it’ll be incredible to watch. So far they’ve been doing decently with covering the grounds of most of their products. Europe’s is a completely different type of problem, and we want to know how all this turns out. Truly, this has been one of the most intriguing car crashes in the tech world as of late.

(Source)

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