HP Licenses Essential Wi-Fi Patents From Blacklisted Huawei

HP Secures Global Wi-Fi Licensing Deal With Huawei

HP Inc. has signed a multi-year global agreement to license essential Wi-Fi patents from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. The pact was made public on.

The arrangement is vital for keeping the U.S.-based personal computing and printing firm in the technology business as it sells hardware globally. Yet the pact comes while Huawei remains barred from importing or selling products in the United States.

Resolving a Lingering Wireless Network Dispute

The cross-licensing deal stems from a prior wireless network patent dispute involving HP, Huawei, and other industry players. According to CNBC, that dispute led to an agreement allowing the U.S. company to access a pool of 2,000 patents related to wireless network connectivity called Sisvel Wi-Fi 6, where Huawei served as a founding member.

HP subsequently clarified to CNBC that it was forced to license the technology after facing a lawsuit from Huawei.

“HP was forced to either license or litigate with the risk of limiting our ability to serve our customers,” HP said in a statement reported by CNBC.

Inside the Standard-Essential Patent Terms

The newly announced pact covers standard-essential patents for Wi-Fi technology, which CNBC notes is routine for companies producing network-connected devices. HP emphasized in its official statements that the agreement does not represent a broader strategic or commercial relationship, partnership, or collaboration with the blacklisted enterprise.

Steven Geiszler, a legal representative who negotiated on behalf of Huawei, stated that the global cross-licensing arrangement includes valuable reciprocal patent rights granted by HP. Geiszler operated as a senior in-house intellectual property lawyer for Huawei for nearly a decade before establishing his own Texas-based firm in April, with Huawei serving as his primary client.

Navigating Federal Restrictions and Upcoming Earnings

The licensing arrangement highlights the complicated realities of global technology standards. Huawei has remained restricted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Entity List since 2019, a designation that cuts the Chinese firm off from working directly with American suppliers like Google.

Despite those strict domestic prohibitions, major hardware manufacturers outside mainland China frequently intersect with Huawei’s massive intellectual property portfolio when utilizing fundamental wireless standards required for modern consumer electronics.

The announcement of the Huawei patent agreement precedes an upcoming earnings report scheduled by HP Inc. for Thursday morning Beijing time.