Nokia has entered into a multi-year 5G patent license agreement with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, marking a significant development in the telecommunications industry. This agreement, announced on February 5, 2024, signifies the resolution of all pending patent litigations between Nokia and Vivo across all jurisdictions. The terms of this landmark agreement remain confidential, as mutually agreed upon by both parties.
This deal is noteworthy as it represents Nokia’s sixth major smartphone licensing agreement within the past 13 months, following similar deals with other leading companies such as Apple, Samsung, OPPO, Honor, and Huawei. Nokia’s engagement in these agreements underscores its almost complete cycle of smartphone license renewals, positioning the company to potentially generate at least 1.4 billion euros in operating profit from its intellectual property licensing business, Nokia Technologies, in 2024.
From Vivo’s perspective, this agreement reflects the company’s substantial investment in R&D within the 5G technology sphere. Vivo has established a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio globally, with over 6,000 families of 5G standard-essential patents successfully filed. This collaboration with Nokia is seen as a mutual acknowledgment of the value of each other’s patent contributions to cellular technology, fostering a positive development environment within the industry.
The agreement underscores both Nokia’s and Vivo’s commitment to innovation and the advancement of the telecommunications sector. Nokia, recognized for its significant contributions to key technologies in the smartphone industry, looks forward to enhancing user experiences worldwide through this collaboration. Meanwhile, Vivo continues to focus on R&D in smart devices and intelligent services, aiming to provide cutting-edge products and services to users globally.
This partnership between Nokia and Vivo not only resolves previous disputes but also sets a precedent for collaboration and mutual respect in the use of intellectual property within the technology sector. As Vivo advances in its development and filing of patent applications across more than 70 countries and regions, this agreement with Nokia marks a pivotal moment in the industry, promoting stability and innovation for the future​​​​.
