ZTE Takes Match Point vs. Samsung in China; Two Patents Validated by CNIPA
January 13, 2026
CNIPA upholds validity of two ZTE 5G patents challenged by Samsung.
Cases in China may proceed faster than those in the UK, Germany, UPC and the US.
January 13, 2026, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued a final decision on the second 5G patent (ZL201711311872.X) owned by ZTE and challenged by Samsung, upholding the patent’s validity. Combined with the validity-maintaining ruling on another 5G patent (ZL201710056532.0) issued last week, all cases in which Samsung challenged the validity of ZTE’s patents in China have now concluded.
This decision will serve as an important reference for the Chongqing Court in determining the FRAND royalty rates. Samsung estimates that the trial in those proceedings is likely to take place between January and March 2026.
This is like ZTE taking match point in its China-based litigation.
Samsung has also sued ZTE for patent infringement in China, filing two lawsuits with the Intermediate People's Court of Hangzhou. In response, ZTE has challenged the validity of two Samsung patents with the CNIPA, though the two invalidation cases are still on trial.
The judgment issued by the High Court of England and Wales sets out a complete list of the global litigation disputes between the two parties.
Based on the progress of court proceedings across various jurisdictions, it is likely that the two parties will reach a settlement over their disputes in the first half of this year.
