Oppo and Nokia resolve patent disputes following OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R global launches

Nokia has announced a resolution to patent disputes between it and some of BBK Electronics' former subsidiaries, a day after the global reveal of the OnePlus 12R and OnePlus 12 (curr. $799.99 on Amazon). For reference, BBK Electronics was split into BBK Education Electronics, Vivo and Oppo last year, the latter of which also controls OnePlus and Realme. To recap, Oppo and OnePlus suspended sales in Germany in 2022 after a German court upheld Nokia's allegations of IP infringements.

Subsequently, Oppo and OnePlus committed to 'all the existing European markets'. However, Oppo has since effectively pulled out of multiple European countries, including the UK. Likewise, OnePlus has scaled back its operations, particularly with third-party retailers.

Today's announcement could allow a return of Oppo and OnePlus into markets where they exited, though. Specifically, Nokia has confirmed that Oppo has to pay royalties for the former's 5G patents. Nokia adds that the multi-year agreement concludes all pending litigation and includes 'catch-up payments' covering previous non-payment. In a joint statement, the pair stated:

Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies

We are delighted to have reached a cross-license agreement with OPPO that reflects the mutual respect for each other's intellectual property and Nokia's investments in R&D and contributions to open standards. OPPO is one of the leading companies in the global smartphone market and we look forward to working together to bring further innovation to their users around the world. The new agreement - along with the other major smartphone agreements we have concluded over the past year - will provide long-term financial stability to our licensing business.

Feng Ying, OPPO's Chief Intellectual Property Officer

We are pleased to have reached this global patent cross-license agreement with Nokia, which includes cross-licensing for 5G standard-essential patents. This agreement reflects the mutual recognition and respect for each other's intellectual property and lays the foundation for future collaboration between OPPO and Nokia. OPPO continues to advocate for reasonable royalty fees and a long-term approach to intellectual property that supports the resolution of disputes through amicable negotiations and mutual respect for the value of all intellectual property.