Xiaomi, multiple companies end patent dispute for continued innovation – Times of India

IP Bridge, Orange, Siemens and Xiaomi have announced that they have ended patent-related disputes through an innovative patent licensing transaction. The transaction will enable efficient licensing of patent rights across multiple technologies from the companies to Xiaomi.
According to a press note by Xiaomi, Novus IP, a company owned by Paul Lin, the former “Head of IP Strategy” at Xiaomi, helped the Chinese consumer technology company and the three licensors close this licensing transaction.

“We continue to explore complementary licensing models to the traditional patent pool and bilateral models in order to avoid time-consuming disputes and to focus on innovation. This unique transaction structure lets Xiaomi customers enjoy the benefits of inventions from three companies, efficiently,” said Ran Xu, General Manager of Global Business Development and IP Strategy, at Xiaomi Group.
Philips, Xiaomi patent dispute
In March last year, both Philips and Xiaomi settled a standard-essential patent (SEP) dispute that started in 2020. The dispute also involved the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).
As report by Fosspatents suggests that the case was related to the Access Advance video codec patent pool. Philips is one of the founding shareholders of the Access Advance video codec patent pool and Philips’s co-founders, who are among the HEVC Advance plaintiffs, sued Xiaomi over HEVC (H.265) patents.

Xiaomi’s troubles in India
Last year, Xiaomi was accused of breaching the foreign exchange laws in India and Enforcement Directorate (ED) revealed that “it seized Rs.5551.27 Crore of M/s Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited lying in the bank accounts under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 in connection with the illegal outward remittances made by the company.”
The ED said that it had been investigating Xiaomi since December 2021 and found that the company had remitted funds — in the guise of royalty payments — to three foreign-based entities.
In response, Xiaomi denied availing any services from the three foreign-based entities. “These royalty payments that Xiaomi India made were for the in-licensed technologies and IPs used in our Indian version products. It is a legitimate commercial arrangement for Xiaomi India to make such royalty payments,” the company said, adding that it is working with the government to “clarify any misunderstandings.”