Samsung Electronics achieved a legal victory in London’s High Court on Wednesday by obtaining an interim license to use ZTE patents during the ongoing global dispute over mobile phone technologies.
The English court of first instance made this ruling for the first time when it granted an interim patent license. The dispute exists across three jurisdictions which include China and Germany and Brazil because both companies seek FRAND licensing terms.
Samsung filed its UK lawsuit in December 2024 to establish worldwide FRAND terms. ZTE advocated for Chinese courts to handle the matter. ZTE presented an interim license to Samsung which required the company to accept licensing terms determined by Chinese courts.
The court supported Samsung when Judge James Mellor determined that ZTE used “unnecessary injunctive proceedings” to force Samsung into dropping its UK case. The court decided that ZTE’s licensing proposal would eliminate the purpose of the London proceedings.
The decision enhances UK court authority in worldwide patent disputes while demonstrating their readiness to intervene before final trial decisions are made. The ruling demonstrates how parties use jurisdictional disputes as a strategic tool in mobile IP disputes that involve high stakes.
