Samsung Electronics was ordered to pay Rmb80m ($11.6m) to Huawei Technologies in China over patent infringement as the South Korean company struggles to compete with fast-growing local players in the world’s largest mobile market.
A Chinese court in Quanzhou, Fujian province, ordered three units of Samsung including Samsung China Investment to pay the sum for infringing a mobile technology patent held by Huawei’s handset unit, Huawei Device, Samsung said on Thursday. The lawsuit was filed by Huawei last June.
The world’s second-largest smartphone maker said it is the first verdict and will not affect its phone sales in China as it is expected to take years to reach the final conclusion. The company said in a statement it will “thoroughly review the court’s decision and determine appropriate responses”.