Google Pixel 7 gets sales ban in Japan, Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 also face sales ban
Japan is an important market for Google. According to data from StatCounter, Google currently ranks second with a market share of 5.81%, far behind the Apple iPhone with a gigantic 62.46%, but just ahead of Samsung and Xiaomi. However, smartphones from the Pixel 7 series have been banned from retail sales there due to a patent dispute with South Korean mobile phone company Pantech.
As MLex reports, a district court in Tokyo has ruled that Google has infringed a standards essential patent relating to the LTE modem in Pixel smartphones. Such patents are required for manufacturing products, which is why they must be licensed under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory conditions. According to Pantech, Google has been using the exact method described in the patent to handle communication between Pixel smartphones and cell towers, but did not license the patent.
The court stressed that preliminary injunctions for standard essential patents (SEP) are only possible if the defendant has not attempted to obtain a license for the respective patent. Google had delayed negotiations and insisted on conditions such as a confidentiality clause, which Pantech argued was completely unnecessary. Google also refused to propose a "reasonable" royalty rate during the proceedings, claiming that calculating it would be "too complex".
After Google refused to provide the court with data on the sales figures of Pixel smartphones in Japan, the sales ban on the Pixel 7 series was imposed. Pantech has already filed a lawsuit to halt sales of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 as well as the corresponding Pro models. If Google is unable to reach an agreement with Pantech, the company may be forced to withdraw from the Japanese market
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Google-Pixel-7-gets-sales-ban-in-Japan-Pixel-8-and-Pixel-9-also-face-sales-ban.1045112.0.htmlOpen linkView original on reddthat.com
17 replies
I hate to side with Google on this one, but this is a stupid patent. Communicating with a cell tower is a basic principle of phone design. How you can give out fundamental patents for that shit is beyond me
Considering other patent laws in Japan, I definitely agree with you.
Especially when companies like Nintendo are somehow able to patent video game mechanics for something as ridiculous as riding on a flying creature.
Especially AFTER a successful competitor comes along after decades of holding ip hostage. Mind bogling
All patents are stupid. Seriously, I've written one, although of course only the boss gets credit for the property. It's a disgusting process where you try to destroy any chance of innovation in the name of money.
Reclassifying patents as anti-competitive behavior alone would fix so much in the market.
does google make their own modems? how many ways can you really communicate with a cell tower?
They bought Motorola back in the day. I always assumed it was for the patent portfolio.
Yes it was, that's why they kept the patents when they sold Motorola.
No, they use an Samsung exynos base modem
I hate to side with Google, but intellectual property and especially patent law is stupid.
Considering, its the 2nd largest seller in Japan. It should do something ASAP unless they want to give away their position. Sony and others could always use a boost of sales if they capitalize on this opportunity correctly.
You would think they would be preferred as the sole Android manufacturer in their home market. Really goes to show how awful if a job Sony has done in the mobile market.
I thought Sony stopped making phones. Must have been someone else
Does Pantech have some sort of Japan specific patent for modem tech that isn't recognized internationally? It isn't like Google even makes modems.
They may have registered a patent in Japan before samsung whose modem google uses.
You need to register a patent individually in most countries otherwise you need to pay royalties for usage of that patent in that country.
You can see this with Nokia, Ericsson and others barring smartphone sales in the past in some countries.
Thanks, that explains what I was missing.
Really? Of all things... Basic math is too complicated for Google to figure out royalties? I think someone might not be telling the truth