Tag: patent lawsuit

  • Huawei Sues MediaTek for Patent Infringement Over Chip Technology

    Huawei Sues MediaTek for Patent Infringement Over Chip Technology

    Huawei, the Chinese technology conglomerate, has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against MediaTek, a prominent chip manufacturer, in a Chinese local court. The lawsuit alleges that MediaTek's technologies infringe upon Huawei's network communication patents, which encompass 5G, 4G, and possibly 3G.

    MediaTek acknowledged the lawsuit in a statement released this morning, recognizing Huawei's accusations of patent infringement. Nevertheless, MediaTek minimized the impact, mentioning that it is presently navigating the judicial process and chose not to provide additional comments.

    MediaTek's Role and Impact

    As a leading chipmaker, MediaTek supplies components to significant smartphone and tablet manufacturers, such as Samsung, Amazon, Oppo, Sony, Vivo, and Xiaomi. MediaTek was also a crucial supplier for Huawei's smartphone division until stricter US export controls were enforced in 2020.

    Sources close to the case indicate that Huawei's lawsuit against MediaTek is mainly driven by the desire to secure licensing fees to support its ongoing research and development (R&D) endeavors. Such lawsuits also enable Huawei to diversify its revenue streams, particularly after US sanctions heavily affected its previously dominant smartphone business.

    Huawei's Patent Portfolio and Licensing Efforts

    Huawei holds an extensive collection of standard-essential patents (SEPs) crucial for wireless communication technologies, including around 20% of the world's 5G-related patents.

    Since 2021, in response to intensified US restrictions, Huawei has increased its patent licensing activities. The company has obtained licensing and cross-licensing agreements with major European automakers, including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, and Porsche.

    Additionally, in 2023, Huawei signed 5G technology agreements with Oppo and Samsung. The previous year, Huawei sought licensing fees from several Japanese companies, claiming that their technologies infringed its patents.

    Revenue from Patent Royalties

    In 2022, Huawei reported $560 million in revenue from patent royalties, with approximately 200 companies holding licensing agreements with the tech giant, as reported by Nikkei Asia. With the lawsuit against MediaTek, Huawei seems committed to enhancing its revenue streams through assertive patent enforcement and licensing strategies.

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  • Settlement Reached by Google in Patent Lawsuit Involving Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) Technology

    Settlement Reached by Google in Patent Lawsuit Involving Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) Technology

    Google Settles Patent Infringement Lawsuit Over TPU Chips

    Google has reached a settlement in a patent infringement lawsuit over the Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) that power its artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The settlement was reached just hours before closing arguments were set to begin in the case filed by Massachusetts-based Singular Computing. The lawsuit alleged that Google used Singular’s technology in its TPUs and sought $1.67 billion in damages.

    What are TPUs?

    TPUs are specialized hardware accelerators designed specifically for machine learning and AI workloads. They are optimized to perform complex calculations involved in AI tasks and are significantly faster and more efficient than traditional CPUs or GPUs. TPUs are used to power AI features in popular Google services like Google Search, Gmail, and Translate.

    Settlement Details

    The details of the settlement between Google and Singular remain confidential. Both parties have confirmed the agreement but declined to provide further comment. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda maintained the company’s innocence and stated that they were pleased to have resolved the matter.

    Singular’s Allegations

    Singular, founded by computer scientist Joseph Bates, claimed that Google used their technology in TPUs. Bates allegedly shared his ideas with Google between 2010 and 2014. The lawsuit argued that TPU versions 2 and 3, released in 2017 and 2018, infringed on two of Singular’s patents.

    Google’s Defense

    Google countered Singular’s claims by stating that the employees who designed their chip had never met Bates and that the technology was created independently. The company argued that their TPU technology differed significantly from Singular’s patents.

    Internal Emails Presented at Trial

    During the trial’s opening, internal Google emails were presented as evidence. The emails showed the company’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, discussing with others how Bates’ ideas were “well-suited” for their chip development.

    While the exact terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, the resolution of this lawsuit brings an end to the legal dispute between Google and Singular over the alleged patent infringement related to TPUs.

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