Smartphone maker Meizu seeks review of Qualcomm license deals amid US giant’s patent lawsuit

Chinese smartphone maker Meizu Technology may be gearing up to fight Qualcomm in court, rather than accept an “unjust patent license agreement” with the US mobile chip giant.

Meizu vice-president Li Nan said at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday that the terms of a patent license offered by Qualcomm to the Zhuhai-based company were neither fair nor reasonable.

“We are willing to negotiate to reach an agreement ... but we want a fair and reasonable price,” Li said.

His comments followed a patent-infringement lawsuit initiated by Qualcomm, the world’s largest supplier of mobile chips, against Meizu in the Beijing Intellectual Property Court last Friday.

According to Qualcomm, it would have preferred to reach a resolution with Meizu without the need for litigation.

“Meizu, unfortunately, has been unwilling to negotiate in good faith and enter into a license agreement ... while unfairly expanding its business through the use of Qualcomm’s innovations,” Qualcomm said in a statement.

Speculation has been rife in mainland media that Qualcomm had asked the court for a 520 million yuan (HK$607.13 million) compensation from Meizu in its lawsuit.