Panasonic has sued Oppo and Xiaomi, accusing them of using their patents on their smartphones without asking. The patents are about 4G technology and are asking for money for damages and to prevent Panasonic, Oppo and Xiaomi from using their patents. Details are here…

Let’s say you have a patent and a big billion dollar tech company is using your technology without permission and infringing that patent. What would you do first? Previously, this question was difficult to answer. Recently, however, the European Union established the United Patent Court, hoping to resolve such issues. UPC is the new court in Europe for patent cases. Its purpose is to make patent protection in this field easier and cheaper. Now, the first major case is Panasonic vs. Oppo and Xiaomi.

The allegations relate to four patents that Panasonic says are necessary for the 4G and 5G mobile communications standards. Panasonic claims that Oppo and Xiaomi are violating these patents by selling mobile phones that do not meet the standards. Panasonic and Kather Augenstein, a German law firm, are seeking damages and injunctive relief against Oppo and Xiaomi.

Cases are heard at local UPC offices in Mannheim and Munich. This is the first major Standard Basic Patent campaign launched by UPC. This is an important development as it shows that the court is now used to enforce SEP in mobile communications. The lawsuit is also likely to have broader implications for the mobile industry.

This may result in other SEP holders claiming violations against the UPC and may prompt mobile phone manufacturers to take steps to ensure their products are SEP compliant. In addition to allegations of infringement, Panasonic is also seeking a statement from UPC that four patents are required for 4G and 5G mobile communications standards.