OnePlus says its Cyanogen operating system different from Micromax

Chinese phonemaker Shenzhen OnePlus Technology Co. Ltd today told the Delhi high court that its version of the Cyanogen operating system (OS) is different from the one that Micromax has an exclusive licence to for use in India.

Shenzhen was recently restrained by the High Court from selling its devices in India on Gurgaon-based phonemaker Micromax Informatics Ltd's plea that its exclusive rights were being infringed by the Chinese company.

The Chinese company said that while its handsets were embedded with the CM11S version of the Cyanogen software, Micromax had a different version, and added that this point was not submitted before the single judge who had passed the restraining order.

It also argued before a bench, headed by Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, that the exclusivity clause in the agreement between Micromax and US-based software firm Cyanogen only means that Cyanogen cannot collaborate with any another mobile maker in India.

"It does not mean that we cannot do business," senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Shenzhen, said.

He, however, suggested that his client be given three months time to sell its stock as well as develop another software to substitute Cyanogen, a specialised form of the Android operating system.

The matter was listed for further hearing tomorrow.

During the proceedings, the bench observed Cyanogen has not been fair to both Shenzhen as well as Micromax as the US-based firm entered into an exclusive use agreement with the Indian company when it already had an arrangement with the Chinese mobilemaker.

"Your client (Cyanogen) did not show fairness to either Micromax or Shenzhen. If this is how you want to proceed, that is wrong," the bench said to the counsel for the US firm.

Cyanogen had a non-exclusive support and trademark licence agreements with Shenzhen with respect to using the operating software for OnePlus handsets in the entire world, including India but excluding China.

The Chinese company, under the agreement, was also allowed to use the Cyanogen trademark.

The US company later entered into an agreement with Micromax for exclusive use of Cyanogen software and trademark in South Asia and said this arrangement superseded the one with Shenzhen.

The single judge bench of the High Court had noted in its order that Shenzhen could sue Cyanogen for breach of contract, but that would be governed by California state laws. It was without remedy in India as Micromax had a stronger trademark claim.