Vivo and Nokia have recently reached a multi-year agreement on patent cross-licensing, putting an end to their legal dispute concerning 5G technology. This development follows Nokia’s resolution of a similar conflict with Oppo, another brand under BBK Electronics, a few weeks ago.
OPPO and Nokia have signed a global cross-license agreement that encompasses standard-essential patents in 5G and other cellular communication technologies. This agreement marks a significant development in their relationship and brings an end to all pending litigation between the two parties across various jurisdictions. The specific terms of the agreement remain confidential, as agreed upon mutually.
Nokia initiated a legal dispute, alleging that smartphone brands under the BBK Electronics portfolio, including Vivo and Oppo, were infringing upon patents related to 5G wireless communication technology. This legal conflict resulted in a lawsuit, and subsequently, the smartphone brands faced defeat in court.
Consequently, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Realme were compelled to withdraw their presence from the German market. However, the recent agreement between Oppo, Vivo, and Nokia regarding 5G patents paves the way for BBK brands to re-enter the German market. As a result, OnePlus has already commenced the sale of its latest OnePlus 12 and 12R models in the country.
As a prominent holder of 5G standard-essential patents and a global leader in smart device innovation, OPPO is both an innovator and implementer of technology standards. The company has deployed 5G communication standard patents in over 40 countries and regions, with a total of more than 5,900 patent families globally as of December 31, 2023. OPPO has declared over 3,300 5G standard patents to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and submitted more than 11,000 standard documents to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Notably, OPPO ranks among the top companies globally in terms of 5G standard-essential patent strength.
