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Vivo recently announced that it would be discontinuing the sale and marketing of Vivo products in Germany, following a decision issued by the District Court of Mannheim. This new development is the latest in a series of legal battles between several brands under BBK electronics (which includes Vivo), and Finnish company Nokia.
The case in question involves 4G standard-essential patents, and has been going on for several months now. Vivo has issued a statement on its German website, saying:
We have read with disappointment the decision of the District Court of Mannheim and have made preparations to suspend the sale and marketing of the products concerned through the official channels of vivo Germany, if necessary. We are preparing to appeal the decision and will review other options. In the meantime, we will continue negotiations with Nokia to resolve the matter in accordance with “FRAND” terms.
A while back, we reported that Nokia was granted a legal victory following a patent dispute with Oppo, after a decision from the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany ruled in favor of the Finnish telecommunications giant. Following this verdict, Oppo and its sister company OnePlus (under BBK Electronics) were prohibited from selling their smartphones in Germany.
As for Vivo, the company stresses that its plans for long-term commitment to German markets “remains unchanged.” The company says that it will maintain its presence in Germany moving forward, with no effect on its operations outside the country.
Source: Vivo (DE)
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