Xiaomi faces lawsuits in India and France over alleged use of technology in phones since 2018

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is currently embroiled in legal battles in India and France over alleged patent infringement related to LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) technology. The Sun Patent Trust, a Delaware-based company that owns over 3,000 former Panasonic patents, has filed lawsuits against Xiaomi claiming that the company has been using patented LTE-A technology in its 4G smartphones without proper licensing since late 2018.

Despite years of negotiations, Xiaomi and Sun Patent Trust have failed to reach a licensing agreement, leading to legal action with a combined value of over $300 million. The Delhi High Court in India will determine if Xiaomi infringed the LTE-A patents, while the Paris Judicial Court in France will decide on appropriate royalty payments for licensing the technology.

Joseph Casino, Managing Trustee of Sun Patent Trust, expressed disappointment in Xiaomi’s refusal to come to an agreement, stating that patent law exists to protect investments in research and development. Xiaomi has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.

The court cases in India and France are expected to be lengthy processes, with potential significant damages and royalties at stake for Xiaomi if found guilty of patent infringement. The outcome of these legal battles could have far-reaching implications for Xiaomi and its future operations in these key markets.