Chinese smartphone maker Coolpad is on the cusp of moving to Indian courtrooms against IPO-bound rival Xiaomi over patent infringement. The reason for this move is that Coolpad believes Indian laws protect patent-holders’ interests.
The company had filed seven such cases in China in two different courts since January this year.
Zhang, in a media statement, cited the example of Ericsson suing Xiaomi in Delhi High Court, which lead to an interim bar on sales of specific Xiaomi phones.
Zhang was quoted as saying from the ET, “India is one of the key markets, and India has the reputation for protecting intellectual property rights, has better laws and systems to protect patent holders. As we saw in the Ericsson-Xiaomi case, we feel that India is a good ground for protecting patents.”
Coolpad has sued Xiaomi for allegedly using its patent without authorization. Coolpad subsidiary, Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific (Shenzhen) Co has filed a lawsuit against three group firms of Xiaomi– Xiaomi Telecom Technology Co, Xiaomi Technology Co and Xiaomi Factory Co — in a court in Jiangsu province for patent infringement demanding it immediately stop production and sale of some smartphone models, including the flagship Mi 6 and the Mi Mix 2 apart from the Mi Max 2, Mi Note 3, Mi 5X, Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi 5 Plus.
The company claimed the phone models used three patents on interface, applications, icon configuration and dual-SIM card and dual-stand-by technologies.
Highlighting that Coolpad is hopeful of Xiaomi putting an end to patent infringement, Nancy Zhang, Global Chief Patent Officer, Coolpad, told IANS in an interview that they are ready to actively co-operate with them to promote industrial progress but the infringement has to stop.
Xiaomi, which has maintained its Numero uno position in the Indian smartphone market since December 2017, said that it was aware of the motion filed by Coolpad’s subsidiary in China, but has sought that the patent rights be declared invalid.
“Xiaomi understands that the filing has yet to be accepted by the court. Xiaomi has requested the Patent Reexamination Board of SIPO to declare the invalidation of the three patent rights regarding the above-mentioned patent infringement law suit,” it said in response to ET’s queries.
The first hearing is expected around September.
With a spurt growth in smartphone sales, India has become a battlefield for lawsuits alleging patent infringement.
