Ericsson sues Apple again over 5G patent licensing
Reuters. – Sweden’s Ericsson has filed another series of patent infringement lawsuits against Apple, in the two companies’ latest battle over paying royalties for using 5G wireless patents in iPhones.
Both companies have already sued each other in the US after negotiations failed to renew a seven-year licensing agreement for telecommunications patents first signed in 2015.
Ericsson first filed a lawsuit in October, claiming that Apple was trying to improperly lower royalty rates, while the iPhone company filed a lawsuit in December. Accusing the Swedish company of using “heavy methods” to renew patents.
“Since the previous agreement expired and we were unable to agree on the terms and scope of the new license, Apple is now using our technology without a license,” an Ericsson spokesperson said.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Patent lawsuits are very common among technology companies, Since every dollar saved can represent significant amounts during the term of the agreement, Because companies like Ericsson charge between $2.5 and $5 per 5G phone.
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The Swedish company spends about $5 billion annually on research, has a portfolio of more than 57,000 patents, and royalties from the patent portfolio represent about a third of its operating profit.
Last year, Ericsson settled patent lawsuits with Samsung after months of court battles that temporarily hurt its quarterly earnings. Unpaid fees are usually settled after an agreement is reached.
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