Hisense has taken a significant step in its legal battle against Sharp over patent infringement. According to recent reports, the company has officially filed a lawsuit in both Beijing and Qingdao courts, accusing Sharp of infringing on several of Hisense's invention patents related to TV technology. The case involves more than a dozen TV models sold across over 30 provinces in China, and the court has accepted the case. Hisense is demanding that Sharp immediately stop manufacturing, selling, and offering for sale the infringing products, as well as destroy all such goods.
The patents at the center of the dispute include "a backlight control method, device and LED TV" and "backlight drive circuit and TV," both of which are still within their valid periods. Hisense claims that Sharp’s actions have violated its intellectual property rights and seeks legal remedies to protect its innovations. The legal proceedings mark a turning point in the long-standing tensions between the two companies.
This conflict has roots in earlier business dealings. In 2015, Sharp transferred its Mexican factory to Hisense due to operational difficulties. It also granted Hisense the right to use the Sharp brand in North America (excluding Brazil) for five years. After taking over, Sharp's operations in the region improved significantly. However, after Foxconn acquired Sharp in 2016, it allegedly violated contractual terms by attempting to terminate the brand licensing agreement. Hisense refused this demand, citing the need to honor the contract, leading Sharp to threaten “destructive action†to reclaim its brand.
Since early this year, the dispute over the Sharp brand in North America has escalated. Foxconn, now the parent company of Sharp, reportedly sought to regain control of the brand through legal means, including filing lawsuits and initiating Section 337 investigations with the U.S. government. This has led some to compare the situation to the classic fable of the farmer and the snake — where trust was broken, resulting in harm.
Interestingly, Sharp's attempts to sue Hisense in the U.S. have repeatedly failed. On November 13, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved Hisense’s motion to dismiss Sharp’s lawsuit and rejected Sharp’s request for an injunction. This further highlights the strength of Hisense’s legal position.
This latest move by Hisense shows that the company is no longer willing to remain silent in the face of patent violations. The ongoing legal battles between the two companies reflect a broader trend of Chinese firms asserting their rights against foreign competitors. As the dispute escalates, it could draw attention from legal experts and even influence international trade relations.
Moreover, Sharp’s presence in China has not been without controversy. The company has faced criticism for its low-price strategy, which many believe undermines market fairness. Reports indicate that consumers have filed over a dozen lawsuits against Sharp this year, citing quality issues. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal and business conflict between the two companies.
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