OnePlus and Oppo devices can no longer be sold in Germany

August 9, 2022 Luisa Rey

A patent dispute between Nokia and Oppo (and OnePlus) has now resulted in the Oppo and OnePlus devices no longer being allowed to be sold in Germany. The judge has decided this. It is not excluded that other (European) countries will follow.

Oppo and OnePlus off shelves in Germany

Nokia and Oppo/OnePlus have been in conflict for several years over a patent dispute for the use of 4G technology. A patent dispute is something that happens more often in the tech world and that is often not settled and products have to be taken off the shelves. Consider, for example, Wiko that for that reason left the Dutch market, after it did not want to sit down with Philips. Now Oppo has lost an appeal against Nokia, and the judge has decided that both OnePlus and Oppo should withdraw their devices from the German market. The ban also applies to the Realme and Vivo brands.

At the beginning of July, the Mannheim court in Germany issued an order to reach a settlement. If this did not take place, a sales ban would be imposed on devices from Oppo (and also OnePlus). The case has not been resolved, so there is now a sales ban in Germany for both OnePlus and Oppo. According to Oppo, the problem would lie with a license agreement for the use of 4G technology from Nokia. The Finnish company would charge an unreasonably high license fee for its renewal. According to Oppo, Nokia would have gone to court a day after the license agreement expired.

It is argued against the German Wirtschaftswoche that the German market will not be completely abandoned. Other products such as headsets and certain accessories will continue to be sold in Germany. Existing Oppo customers can continue to use their device without any problems and will also receive all future updates; so let Oppo know. Both Oppo and OnePlus have emptied the product range.

Oppo Find X3 Pro front

Solution?

According to Oppo, a solution is being worked on. According to estimates, the company would have a market share of 10 percent in Germany. The BBK brands together have an estimated share of 20 percent. According to these reports, approximately two million smartphones are sold every year. Reportedly, Winfuture reports, the manufacturer would have to pay 2.50 euros per smartphone sold in licensing costs. However, this applies to all smartphones it sells worldwide, so not just in Germany. Something that can become an expensive affair, and possibly put the presence in Germany under a magnifying glass at parent company BBK.

The case has not only been brought in Germany. Nokia is also reported to have sued the BBK company (which owns brands such as Oppo, OnePlus, Realme and Vivo) in the Netherlands, France, Finland, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom. When the court decides in favor of Nokia, it may just be that the plug is also pulled from the sale of OnePlus and Oppo devices.