Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd v Conversant Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.

Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd v Conversant Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.

The English court is the appropriate and only possible forum for determining claims for infringement of UK patents and related FRAND licensing terms. The dispute concerns UK patents, and the Chinese courts cannot determine essentiality, infringement, or validity of UK patents. The doctrine of forum non conveniens...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Appellant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd; Appellant: Huawei Technologies (UK) Co., Ltd; Appellant: ZTE Corporation; Appellant: ZTE (UK) Limited; Respondent: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
30 January 2019
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Patent Infringement, FRAND Licensing, Forum Non Conveniens, Jurisdiction, Service Out of Jurisdiction
Intellectual Property Conflict of Laws Civil Procedure Patent Infringement FRAND Licensing Forum Non Conveniens Jurisdiction Service Out of Jurisdiction

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Parties

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd

Appellant

Huawei Technologies (UK) Co., Ltd

Appellant

ZTE Corporation

Appellant

ZTE (UK) Limited

Appellant

Conversant Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L.

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the English court is the appropriate forum to determine claims for infringement of UK patents and FRAND licensing terms against foreign defendants
  2. 2 Whether China is an available and more appropriate forum for global FRAND determination
  3. 3 Whether the doctrine of forum non conveniens applies to UK-domiciled defendants

Ratio Decidendi

The English court is the appropriate and only possible forum for determining claims for infringement of UK patents and related FRAND licensing terms. The dispute concerns UK patents, and the Chinese courts cannot determine essentiality, infringement, or validity of UK patents. The doctrine of forum non conveniens does not apply to UK-domiciled defendants, and the action must continue against them in England. The appeal is dismissed.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed.
  • The action will continue in England against all defendants.