vivo has just released a statement saying that it is prepared to stop selling its phones in Germany “if necessary”. This comes after the District Court of Mannheim in Germany reached a decision regarding its lawsuit filed by Nokia over patent disputes.
The court ruled that vivo will be forced to cease selling smartphones in Germany with Nokia-patented technology with negotiations on licensing fees failing.
The two companies had a deal until 2021 but it was not renewed which eventually resulted in the lawsuit.
vivo Releases Statement
The vivo has since released a statement to address the decision from the German court. In the statement, the China-based manufacturer mentioned that it is prepared to stop selling its phones in Germany if necessary but not before appealing the decision and reviewing other options.
Here’s the full statement:
vivo fully respects intellectual property and is committed to continuous innovation through extensive research and development. In recent years, vivo has entered into cross-licensing agreements with numerous leading companies. We have negotiated with Nokia about renewing the mutual licenses, but so far have not been able to reach an agreement. We firmly believe that Nokia has not yet fulfilled its obligation to offer a license on “FRAND” (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) terms.
We have read with disappointment the decision of the District Court of Mannheim and have made preparations to suspend the sale and marketing of the products concerned through the official channels of vivo Germany, if necessary. We are preparing to appeal the decision and will review other options. In the meantime, we will continue negotiations with Nokia to resolve the matter in accordance with “FRAND” terms.
Prior to this, OPPO and OnePlus had to stop offering their devices in Germany due to patent infringement cases filed by Nokia. There were reports shortly after that speculate an exit from Europe for both companies but it has since been denied.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
