Qualcomm sues Transsion, one of the largest smartphone makers

Qualcomm has filed a lawsuit against Transsion, one of the world’s largest smartphone makers, over patents.

As reported by IP Fray On LinkedIn, Qualcomm is suing Transsion over four non-standard essential patents. The specific patents are not mentioned, but it is worth noting because Qualcomm is rarely involved in lawsuits of this nature. Typically, as the post points out, Qualcomm leverages its chipsets and the reliance of many other companies on those chips to enter into licensing agreements when a patent is infringed.

But with Transsion, Qualcomm doesn’t really have that option.

As WinFuture emphasizes that Transsion does not sell any smartphones equipped with Qualcomm chips.

Although it will be the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world by 2024 according to Statista (behind Samsung, Apple, and Xiaomi), Transsion currently uses largely chips from MediaTek as well as some chips from Unisoc to power its smartphones. Snapdragon chips have been used in some devices in the past, but nothing is actively sold at the moment.

Transsion brands include Itel, Infinix and perhaps the most well-known, Tecno, among others.

These brands have grown rapidly in recent years in the entry-level and mid-range markets, all without relying on Qualcomm.

The lawsuit could result in Transsion having to pay licensing fees to Qualcomm, but it’s unclear what impact that would have on Transsion. But with the brand primarily focused on low-cost devices, any reduction in its margins could be a blow.

The Financial Times Transsion is also being sued by Phillips, and Nokia is reportedly pressuring Transsion to make payments for use of the patented technology used in its smartphones. In the report, a Transsion spokesperson said the company has “signed a 5G standard patent licensing agreement with Qualcomm” and is “in the process of fulfilling that agreement.”