US firm InterDigital files patent infringement complaints against Xiaomi in Delhi HC

InterDigital, a Wilmington, Delaware headquartered mobile and video technology services provider, has filed two patent infringement cases against Xiaomi in the Delhi High Court.  

The Beijing based company has infringed on five InterDigital cellular 3G and 4G Indian patents, and three H.265/HEVC (high efficiency video coding) Indian patents, according to a statement.

InterDigital claimed the cases were filed after years of failed negotiations, adding that it “has made clear that it is willing to resolve the terms of a FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) license through binding arbitration”.

It has sought compensatory and punitive damages, along with injunctive relief to prevent further infringement of the litigated patents in India.

Wireless and video standards play the important role of eliminating barriers to entry, enabling new companies – like Xiaomi – to enter the market and have success despite having made no investment in previous wireless research activities, William J Merritt, president and CEO of InterDigital, said.

“Advanced research drives key wireless and video standards, and fair licenses with companies that make use of those technologies enable companies like InterDigital to reinvest in still more research, benefiting all users and the industry at large,” he added.

InterDigital has invested more than two decades of research and development effort in 3G, 4G and 5G technologies, resulting in more than 32,000 patents and applications on its portfolio, the statement said.

“We’re hopeful that this record of research and licensing success, coupled with this claim in the Delhi High Court, will result in a fair license, and that Xiaomi will join Samsung, Apple and Huawei as customers of InterDigital,” Merritt said.