Key points to understand
- A Japanese court has prohibited the sale of the Pixel 7, determining that Google utilized Pantech’s technology without adequate licensing.
- The patent dispute concerns how devices communicate with cell towers, which is fundamental LTE technology meant to be equitably distributed under industry protocols.
- The court labeled Google as “insincere” multiple times, which likely influenced the decision toward an outright sales prohibition.
A court in Japan has imposed a sales ban on the Google Pixel 7 series, marking a significant setback for the company, especially since Japan has subtly transformed into one of its primary markets outside the U.S.
As reported by ETNews, a court in Japan found that Google’s Pixel 7 series infringed upon Pantech’s patents, leading to these devices being officially withdrawn from the market in the country.
The ruling stemmed from Google’s use of Pantech’s standard-essential patents without the required licenses. Such patents—like the one associated with “control signal mapping” for LTE—are intended to be shared fairly within the industry under FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) guidelines. However, in this instance, the court concluded that Google overstepped the boundaries.