Recently, a Japanese court imposed a sales ban on the Google Pixel 7 series. This development poses significant challenges for Google, especially as Japan has become a crucial market for the brand outside of the United States. The ruling stemmed from allegations that Google used technology developed by Pantech without obtaining the necessary licenses.
The court determined that Google had infringed upon Pantech’s standard-essential patents, which involve foundational aspects of LTE technology that are meant to be shared fairly across the industry. The court criticized Google’s conduct as “insincere,” which likely influenced the decision toward a complete sales ban. This type of ruling is quite rare in Japan, marking this incident as the first product ban issued over a standard patent issue.
Pantech has accused Google of utilizing patented methods that control how Pixel phones communicate with cell towers without securing a proper license. The court’s dissatisfaction with Google’s approach may have contributed significantly to this outcome. Despite the setback, the timing of the ban may soften its impact.
The Pixel 7 series is nearing its third anniversary, making way for the newer Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 models, which are already on the market. Google has promptly removed the Pixel 7 from its official store, indicating that the ban will not substantially affect current sales figures. However, Pantech is not stopping at the Pixel 7.
They are pursuing a sales ban on the latest Pixel models in Japan. Google has achieved notable success in Japan, with a remarkable increase in market share over the past year. If the ban extends to the newer models, it could have severe repercussions for Google in a competitive landscape where they have been establishing a solid foothold.