Geely seeks global FRAND rate determination for Nokia cellular patents in China

Geely seeks global FRAND rate determination for Nokia cellular patents in China - Geely Initiates Global FRAND Litigation Against Nokia in Chinese Court

Honestly, I’ve been waiting for a move like this because the tension between car makers and tech giants has been simmering for way too long. Geely just shook things up by filing a massive global FRAND case against Nokia in the Chongqing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court, and it’s a big deal for anyone following Volvo or Polestar. They’re trying to set a worldwide ceiling on 5G royalties, which is a bold play to stop the costs from spiraling out of control as cars basically become giant smartphones on wheels. Let's pause and think about the scale here, since Nokia holds over 6,000 5G patent families that cover everything from basic connectivity to the low-latency tech Geely needs for its newest electric platforms. We’re

Geely seeks global FRAND rate determination for Nokia cellular patents in China - The Escalation of Cellular SEP Disputes Within the Automotive Sector

You know that feeling when you're watching a slow-motion car crash and you just can't look away? That’s basically what’s happening right now between car companies and the giants who own 5G patents. I’ve been looking at the data, and it’s wild to see how the 5G era has brought a 300% jump in these "essential" patents compared to what we saw with 4G. But here’s the part that really bugs me: recent audits suggest about a third of those patents might not even meet the technical specs they're supposed to. It makes you wonder why we're paying for stuff that might not even be doing the heavy lifting in our vehicles. Think about how modern cars now

Geely seeks global FRAND rate determination for Nokia cellular patents in China - Jurisdictional Rivalry: China’s Assertive Role in Global Rate Setting

Honestly, watching the legal tug-of-war between China and the West over these patent rates feels like watching two tectonic plates collide in slow motion. We're seeing a massive shift because Chinese courts have gone from being quiet observers to issuing eleven global rate determinations in just the last few years. It really started getting interesting around 2020 when the Huawei v. Conversant ruling showed that Chinese judges weren't afraid to use anti-suit injunctions to basically tell European courts to back off. Think about it this way: if you can freeze a lawsuit in Munich from an office in Beijing, you've suddenly got the upper hand. Speed is another part of the story that doesn't get enough credit, with these specialized IP tribunals now wrapping up tough cases in about fourteen months. That'

Geely seeks global FRAND rate determination for Nokia cellular patents in China - Strategic Implications for Nokia’s Intellectual Property Monetization

I've been looking at Nokia's latest numbers, and it's pretty wild to see that their licensing business is running on a 90% operating margin right now. That's a massive cushion, but it also means they've got everything to lose if these automotive cases don't go their way. You can see why they're being so aggressive with Geely when you realize that nearly 15% of their licensing money is coming from the car and IoT space today. It wasn't even half that a few years ago, so they’re basically betting the farm on these connected cars. But it’s not just about simple 5G anymore; Nokia is shifting its focus toward things like the H.266 video standard that powers those fancy screens in your new EV. They’ve also used some clever AI mapping to pin down over 400 patents that are absolutely needed for the lightning-fast response times required for self-driving cars. It’s a smart, if slightly ruthless, way to make sure they’re the ones getting paid as we move toward Level 4 autonomy. I also noticed they’re trying this "hybrid licensing" thing where they try to split the cost of the basic signal from the high-end software in the car’s brain. It feels like a move to stay ahead of how Chinese courts define what a fair licensee actually looks like. And then there's the "cross-licensing" play where they offer cheaper hardware to get better rates on their patents. It’s a tricky dance, and honestly, I’m not sure if Geely’s vertical supply chain will actually bite on that kind of deal. At the end of the day, Nokia is fighting to keep those high-margin checks coming in as the world moves from smartphones to smart cars.