Huawei Signs ‘Long-Term’ Cross-Licensing Patent Deal With Sharp

29 Nov 2023

What’s new: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. has struck a long-term cross-licensing patent agreement with Japan’s Sharp Corp., adding to its growing list of similar deals inked with global tech giants such as Xiaomi Corp. and Ericsson Inc.

The deal covers cellular standard essential patents including 4G and 5G technologies, Huawei said in a statement Monday.

Huawei did not specify how long the cross-licensing agreement would last.

The background: The deal comes as Huawei is striving to bring in more revenue from licensing its patents after its once-lucrative smartphone business was hobbled by U.S. sanctions.

In September, Huawei finalized a cross-licensing patent agreement with Xiaomi, settling a legal dispute over four Huawei patents involving 4G and handset technologies. The deal covers multiple technologies including 5G.

The company has also signed similar pacts with Chinese smartphone-maker Oppo Co. Ltd., Swedish telecommunications-equipment giant Ericsson and German automaker Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

In 2022, Huawei generated $560 million in revenue from its patent licensing deals, according to Alan Fan, head of its intellectual property rights department. That marked the first time the company has broken out its annual income for that business.