Hisense sues Nokia in UK
On June 13, 2025, four companies including Hisense filed a lawsuit against Nokia in the High Court of the UK.
The lawsuit reflects escalating tensions in the H.264/H.265 video codec patent disputes between Nokia and Chinese/Taiwanese electronics manufacturers. Nokia has pursued parallel litigation in Germany, the U.S., Brazil, and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) since April 2025, alleging infringement of its standard-essential patents (SEPs) .
Hisense has historically avoided initiating FRAND rate disputes, this marks a strategic shift. The move aligns with Acer’s recent filing (June 11, 2025) in the UK, suggesting coordinated pressure on Nokia to renegotiate licensing terms .
Legal Strategy Implications
- UK Court Authority: The UK High Court is recognized for its expertise in FRAND rate determinations. Both companies likely aim to secure a binding ruling on licensing terms, avoiding prolonged global litigation .
- Temporary Licensing Request: Industry experts speculate that HaiXin may seek an "interim license" to maintain operations while negotiations proceed, a tactic observed in recent SEP cases like Amazon v. Nokia .
Notably, in the cases of Xiaomi v. Panasonic and Lenovo v. Ericsson, Kirkland & Ellis represented the implementers in securing interim licenses from UK courts.
In my impression, it is very rare for Hisense to initiate a lawsuit.
This also indicates that there is a huge difference in the licensing rate between the two sides.
Hisense is represented by Kirkland & Ellis.