Context: In April 2021, Nokia and Lenovo signed a cross-licensing agreement, settling a two-year video patent infringement dispute that spanned the U.S., Brazil, India, and Germany (April 7, 2021 Nokia press release).
What’s new: Nokia and Lenovo have signed another multi-year, multi-technology patent cross-license agreement, the companies have today announced (June 18, 2026 Nokia press release). The terms of the agreement are confidential, as agreed between the parties.
Direct impact: The deal was signed on an amicable basis, meaning it is an extension of the previous deal already in place. Nokia has recently signed several deals on an amicable basis, including with three leading residential security systems providers (such as ADT: March 31, 2026 ip fray article), Snapchat (January 14, 2026 ip fray article), and several Chinese automakers (January 20, 2026 ip fray article).
Wider ramifications: The deal is positive news for Nokia, which is currently embroiled in litigation with Acer and ASUS over several video patents. The dispute spans the UPC, Germany, and the UK. In January (January 23, 2026 ip fray article) and March (March 26, 2026 ip fray article) this year, the Munich I Regional Court entered injunctions against Acer and ASUS over two HEVC-related patents. Earlier this week, the sole active UPC case brought by Nokia against Acer was withdrawn by consent (June 16, 2026 LinkedIn post by ip fray).
In a statement today, Nokia’s Chief Licensing Officer Susanna Martikainen said the company is “pleased” to have concluded a cross-license agreement with Lenovo on an amicable basis, adding:
“The agreement reflects the strength of Nokia’s patent portfolio and decades-long investments in research and standardization.”
Also today, Taylor Ludlam, VP, Deputy General Counsel, and Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Lenovo:
“Innovation is central to the success of every technology company. At Lenovo, we invest significantly in R&D to develop new products and technologies, while also supporting the broader technology ecosystem through licensing our intellectual property. Effective IP licensing helps companies innovate faster, meet industry standards, and bring new products to customers more efficiently. This cross-licensing agreement reflects industry best practice and supports continued innovation for the benefit of customers.”