Xiaomi’s India ban partially lifted

Last week, Chinese phone maker Xiaomi was hit with a sales ban in India. Today, that has been partially lifted by the Delhi High Court, reports The Hindu.

Today’s ruling allows Xiaomi to sell only Qualcomm-powered smartphones in India, and only until January 8, 2015. This allows Xiaomi to sell three of the four models it had launched in India – the Redmi Note 4G, the Mi3, and the Redmi 1S. The MediaTek-powered Redmi Note remains fully banned.

This is a temporary reprieve for Xiaomi – its intellectual property battle in India is far from over. We’ve contacted Xiaomi to ask when its online sales will recommence (Update: No comment for now).

Xiaomi’s intellectual property issues in India are caused by eight mobile connectivity technology patents held by Swedish telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson. Xiaomi had not licensed these patents through Ericsson’s Standard Essential Patent package. Ericsson claims it approached Xiaomi to make a deal before the Chinese startup entered India in July this year.

The reprieve was granted due to Xiaomi arguing in court today that Ericsson’s deposition suppressed the fact that Xiaomi uses Qualcomm chips in some of its phones, and that Qualcomm possesses a license to use Ericsson’s patents.

See: OnePlus One arrives in India, ready to battle Xiaomi and Micromax)

(Source: The Hindu)