BREAKING: Ericsson, Transsion settle global patent litigation

Context: In November 2025, Ericsson launched a global enforcement campaign against China’s Transsion, the world’s fourth-largest smartphone maker, over 4G and 5G-related standard-essential patents (SEPs). It sued the Chinese supplier in Brazil, India, Nigeria, and three venues in the UPC (November 14, 2025 ip fray article), as well as Indonesia, Colombia, and Morocco (December 19, 2025 ip fray article), before adding more actions in Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, South Africa, and another in Brazil (January 30, 2026 ip fray article). In May, Transsion clamped back by filing its first-ever public patent infringement action against Ericsson before the UPC (March 26, 2026 ip fray article), as well as several invalidation challenges with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Yesterday, Moroccan media outlet Médias24 reported (in French) that the Casablanca Trade Court enjoined Transsion subsidiaries Tecno Mobile Limited and Itel Mobility Limited from selling 4G and 5G smartphones in the North African country due to a violation of some Ericsson patents (July 8, 2026 ip fray article). 

What’s new: Ericsson and global Chinese smartphone maker Transsion have reached a settlement resolving their dispute over a multi-year, global patent cross-license agreement, the companies have just announced (July 8, 2026 Ericsson press release).

Direct impact: The settlement means that all pending cases between the companies, across all jurisdictions, will be withdrawn. Ericsson noted that the financial benefit from this cross-licensing deal is expected to be reflected in its Q3 2026 report. It emphasized that “opportunities remain to further grow IPR revenues”.

Wider ramifications:

• This comes shortly after Ericsson also announced it has settled its dispute with Verifone (July 7, 2026 Roy Maharaj LinkedIn post). The SEP owner had sued Verifone in both the UPC’s Mannheim Local Division (LD) and the Hague LD, asserting a cellular SEP and additionally asking the court for a declaration of FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing) compliance (February 20, 2026 ip fray article). This quick succession of agreements is certainly a boost to the company’s litigation efforts, as it also continues to litigate against ASUS in the UPC’s Milan LD (June 17, 2026 ip fray article), as well as the Lisbon LD, and the Munich I Regional Court.
• This is also positive for Transsion, notably because it is a cross-licensing deal – not one-way – meaning the company’s pressure in China and in the UPC may have held some sway. While Transsion has been able to settle many of its disputes with major Western SEP owners, including the likes of Qualcomm and Philips, this is the first publicly known cross-licensing deal of its kind.