Qualcomm Going After Fourth-Largest Phone Maker Transsion Over Four Patent Violations; Chinese Firm Has Not Used A Single Snapdragon Chipset In Its Devices

Jul 13, 2024 at 08:10am EDT
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Transsion is currently the fourth-biggest smartphone maker in the world, but you can be forgiven if you do not know about the name because the Chinese firm operates under the banner of other brands, such as Infinix, with these smartphones targeting the lower-end segment. The company has also yet to use a Snapdragon SoC in its devices, but it has still found itself in a legal skirmish with Qualcomm, who is reportedly going after Transsion for violating not one but four non-essential patents.

Claiming licensing fees from Transsion could be Qualcomm’s primary objective

As reported by ip fray’s post on LinkedIn and spotted by WinFuture, Qualcomm is taking legal action against Transsion in New Dehli, India, with the San Diego firm reportedly accusing the smartphone maker to have infringed on various mobile technologies patented by Qualcomm. Looking at previous lawsuits, this is the first time that Transsion is being held accountable regarding patent violations. The lawsuit’s primary goal would likely be to claim licensing fees from Transsion.

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Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot inform you about the total sum that Transsion owes Qualcomm, if any. After all, the Chinese company has yet to use a Snapdragon chipset in its devices, instead choosing to partner with other brands such as Tecno Mobile and Infinix as it aims to take over the entry-level market in India. Looking at how massive Transsion has gotten, Qualcomm probably views this moment as an opportune one to take the company to court and possibly force it to pay millions in licensing fees.

However, that battle might be a tough one to win, as Transsion only uses MediaTek chipsets in its smartphones. Even the most expensive handset, which is the Tecno Phantom V Fold, uses the Dimensity 9000+, possibly making it difficult for Qualcomm to claim licensing fees. Then again, if MediaTek’s chipsets utilize the same technology, Transsion could be forced to pay up.

About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.

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