Samsung Secures Interim License in UK Patent Dispute with ZTE

Samsung has won a legal battle against Chinese tech company ZTE over a mobile phone patent dispute. The UK High Court recently ruled that Samsung can use ZTE’s patents under an interim license. The Korean firm can continue selling mobile phones that use the disputed patented technology without waiting for a final court judgment.

Samsung wins UK court battle over ZTE patents

This legal fight is about fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) patent licensing. It means companies that own standard technology patents must share them with others on FRAND terms. In December 2024, Samsung sued ZTE in London seeking a determination of FRAND terms for using ZTE’s patents. At the same time, ZTE sued Samsung in China, Germany, and Brazil.

Samsung told the London court that ZTE should agree to a temporary license while they wait for the court to decide what fair licensing terms should be. Both companies presented the court with different versions of the license. However, ZTE’s version mentioned that a Chinese court should decide the FRAND terms.

Regarding this matter, on June 25, London’s High Court ruled in favor of Samsung. The court agreed with Samsung’s request to get an interim license to use ZTE’s patent. This is the first time a court in England has given an interim patent license at the trial level.

Judge James Mellor said, “ZTE have acted in bad faith with their wave of unnecessary injunctive proceedings.” Mellor further noted, “ZTE’s terms are designed to render this action (in London) pointless, so that Samsung effectively has to abandon it,” and accepted the outcome of ZTE’s lawsuit in Chongqing in southwestern China.

So far, neither Samsung nor ZTE has made any statement publicly regarding the court’s decision. The case is still ongoing, and the court has not decided final FRAND terms yet. But for now, it’s a win for Samsung as it can use ZTE’s patents on mobile phones without disruption.