LONDON (Reuters) – Lenovo emerged victorious on Friday in its appeal in Britain aimed at securing an interim license to utilize Ericsson’s patents, marking the latest milestone in the ongoing global licensing conflict between the two companies concerning 5G wireless technology. The legal battle between Lenovo and Ericsson has extended to various countries worldwide, with lawsuits exchanged in locations such as Brazil, Colombia, and the United States.
The core of the dispute revolves around establishing fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for the licensing of both Lenovo’s and Ericsson’s patents. Disputes over FRAND licensing have triggered extensive legal skirmishes within the telecommunications industry on a global scale.
In the London proceedings, Lenovo pursued a declaration asserting that a willing licensor would be willing to engage in a short-term license arrangement until a final determination on the FRAND terms was reached. Although the initial application was turned down last year, the Court of Appeal reversed that decision on Friday.
Judge Richard Arnold, in a written judgment, stated that “a willing licensor in Ericsson’s position would be inclined to negotiate an interim license with Lenovo,” expressing hope that Ericsson would opt to proceed accordingly.
Laura Quatela, Lenovo’s Chief Legal Officer, remarked that the ruling “not only affirms Lenovo’s willingness to engage as a licensee but also bolsters and reiterates our commitment to advocating for transparency and equity in global FRAND licensing.”
Ericsson did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment. (Reported by Sam Tobin; edited by Sarah Young)
