Huawei files patent lawsuits against rival ZTE

HONG KONG:  Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world's No.2 network equipment maker, has filed lawsuits in Europe against smaller Chinese rival ZTE for patent and trademark infringement.

Huawei said in a statement that ZTE had infringed a series of its patents relating to data card and LTE (long term evolution) technologies and illegally used a Huawei-registered trademark on some of its data card products.

ZTE rejected the charges.

"ZTE respects and adheres to international intellectual property laws and regulations without reservation, and absolutely rejects that there has been any patent and trademark infringement," it said in a statement.

The lawsuits have been filed in Germany, France and Hungary.

"Our objective is to stop the illegal use of Huawei's intellectual property and resolve this dispute through negotiation so that our technology is used in a lawful manner," said Song Liuping, Huawei's chief legal officer.

ZTE responded: "ZTE is always willing to negotiate on issues in good faith, but will definitely take vigorous legal action in situations like this to protect its interests and those of its customers worldwide."

The announcements came after China and Hong Kong markets closed.

Huawei, based in China's southern boomtown of Shenzhen, is unlisted. ZTE's Hong Kong-listed shares were down 1.05 percent, lagging the main Hang Seng Index's .HSI 0.37 percent decline