Huawei and MediaTek dispute intensifies as key patent identified

On September 29, media report disclosed that the first patent involved in the recent infringement dispute between Huawei and MediaTek has been identified. This patent primarily involves 4G/LTE technology.

The report, citing a recent announcement made by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), disclosed that MediaTek has initiated an invalidation challenge against Huawei’s patent titled “Method and Device for Identifying User Equipment and Method for Transmitting and Allocating Temporary Identifiers” (Patent No. ZL201110255576.9). The oral hearing for this case is scheduled for October 25, 2024, at the CNIPA.

According to the report, this patent, filed in 2011 as a divisional application with its parent case dating back to 2007, was previously used by Huawei in litigation against Samsung. Samsung challenged the patent’s validity four times, with CNIPA upholding its validity in three decisions.

The patent is believed to be one of the disputed patents in the lawsuit Huawei filed against MediaTek reported in July 2024.

On July 18, reports emerged that Huawei had initiated a patent lawsuit against MediaTek in China. MediaTek confirmed the litigation on July 19 but did not disclose further details.

On July 25, IP media outlet IAM reported that MediaTek had countered by filing a lawsuit against Huawei in the UK High Court.

Insiders indicate that the conflict between Huawei and MediaTek began two to three years ago over patent fees, escalating recently due to pricing disagreements. MediaTek believed Huawei’s licensing fee demands, based on terminal phone prices, excessively high.

This ongoing patent dispute has garnered significant attention within the tech industry, raising broader issues about IP protection and patent licensing models.

Huawei, holding a robust position in global 5G patents with about 20%, also possesses extensive portfolios in 4G, Wi-Fi 6, H.266, OTN, 10G PON, and IETF technologies. The company has actively renewed or signed cross-licensing agreements with major industry players such as Samsung, OPPO, Nokia, Ericsson, Xiaomi, Sharp, Amazon, and vivo.

Huawei's lawsuit against MediaTek is seen as an attempt to shift the traditional patent licensing model from terminal manufacturers to component suppliers like MediaTek. If successful, this could lower patent licensing costs for smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo, potentially reducing consumer prices.

Conversely, MediaTek, a key player in the mobile chipset market, has countersued Huawei in the UK, aiming to defend its interests and legal position.

The outcome of this cross-border legal battle remains uncertain and is closely watched by the industry. Both Huawei and MediaTek are heavily invested in this high-stakes litigation, underscoring its strategic importance.

As the case progresses, the tech industry awaits the results, which could significantly influence patent licensing practices and market dynamics.