US EditionGoogle banned from selling select Pixel phones in Japan, and it might not end there
- The Tokyo District Court banned Google from selling and displaying Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones in Japan due to patent infringement.
- The ban followed the court's agreement that Google used Pantech's LTE signal mapping technology without a license, with the judge criticizing Google's insincere attitude.
- Pixel 7 devices had driven significant market share growth in Japan, where Pixel briefly became the second-largest smartphone brand after Apple in 2023.
- Alphabet's shares fell slightly after the ruling, and the court's strong response reflected Japan's strict legal stance on intellectual property and corporate honesty.
- Pending lawsuits threaten Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 sales, suggesting potentially wider market disruption for Google in Japan later this year and beyond.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Google Pixel 7 series banned in this country over major dispute: Pixel 8 and 9 at risk
Google’s popular smartphones, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones have been banned in Japan following a court ruling over patent infringement. The Tokyo District Court found that Google violated a key patent related to 4G LTE technology, owned by the South Korean firm Pantech. The ruling has led to a complete ban on the sale, promotion, import and even public display of these devices in Japan. The ruling not only halts the sales in the regio…
Why did Japan ban Google’s Pixel 7 phones? Could more models follow?
A Japanese court has banned sales, imports, advertising and public display of Google’s Pixel 7 series, citing unlicensed use of patented LTE technology involving 'acknowledgement signals'. The patent is held by defunct Korean brand Pantech and enforced by IdeaHub. Legal efforts are underway to extend the ban to Pixel 8 and 9, impacting Japan’s second-largest smartphone brand
Google Faces Legal Setback In Japan: Pixel 7 Series Sales Blocked Amid Patent Dispute With South Korean Phone Maker - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Google faces a legal setback in Japan as a court bans the sale of its Pixel 7 series smartphones, citing patent infringement by the company related to LTE signal mapping technology.
A court has prohibited Google from selling Pixel 7 smartphones in Japan. Reason is a patent dispute. The ban could also extend to newer pixel models and Google would cost one of its most important markets. (Continue reading)
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