A court in Japan has prohibited Google from selling its Pixel 7 series smartphones in the country, following a ruling that the tech giant infringed on a patent. This decision comes at a time when Pixel devices have been gaining significant traction among Japanese consumers.
Japan remains a key market for Google. As per StatCounter data, Google holds the second spot in the country’s smartphone market with a 5.81% share. While it trails significantly behind Apple’s dominant 62.46% share, it narrowly leads over competitors like Samsung and Xiaomi.
According to a report from ETNews, a Tokyo district court has found Google guilty of violating a standard-essential patent tied to the LTE modem used in its Pixel smartphones. These types of patents are crucial for product development and are supposed to be licensed under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Pantech claims that Google implemented the same technique outlined in their patent to manage communication between Pixel devices and mobile towers, yet failed to obtain a proper license for its use.
The judge also took issue with Google’s handling of the lawsuit, characterizing the company’s response as lacking sincerity. This perceived uncooperative stance is said to have played a role in the court’s decision to enforce the sales ban.
In terms of impact, the ruling is unlikely to significantly affect the Pixel 7 series overall. However, if the ban were to extend to the Pixel 8 or Pixel 9 lineups, it could pose a serious threat to Google’s momentum and expansion in the Japanese market.
Google is gearing up to launch its upcoming Pixel 10 series smartphones in the next few months. Although the company has yet to confirm any details officially, numerous leaks have surfaced, shedding light on expected features and specifications. This next-generation lineup could represent Google’s most polished smartphones yet, aiming to deliver a top-tier Android experience like never before.
