Huawei top executives reinforce values of transparency and collaboration regarding intellectual property rights (IPR)

In order to build a healthy global intellectual property rights (IPR) ecosystem that drives technological and social progress, Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, has recently met with representatives of the United States Information Technology Office (USITO) to discuss collaborative approaches to respecting and protecting IPR whilst the industry at large sees ongoing global patent disputes. 

Every year, Huawei pays approximately US$300 million in royalties in order to legitimately use the patented technologies of industry peers. Huawei also invests an average of 10% of its sales revenues in R&D each year, with the total amounting to over US$15 billion in the past decade. 

Mr. Deng Tao, Vice President of Huawei, elaborated on the company’s views during a keynote presentation at the recent USITO Ambassador Roundtable on IPR held in Beijing, China. The company appealed to global organizations, be they governmental bodies, industry associations, or enterprises, to expand their capabilities for IPR collaboration and create viable mechanisms that enable greater IPR access, protection, and paid use. 

Intellectual Property is an ever-changing field in the Middle East where various regional and local laws adapting to meet technological advances and the differing needs of developers, manufacturers, and distributors in the ICT industry. 

“Huawei respects the IPR of others and also strives to protect its own IPR,” noted Deng. “Adopting such approaches will mitigate and help to resolve current global disputes, while also encouraging innovation and technological progress.” 

Huawei adopts open and cooperative approaches to IPR, including paid use of IPR and cross-licensing, to reduce the cost of innovations and contribute to a healthy industry ecosystem. Huawei has entered into dozens of cross-licensing agreements with industry peers and other patent holders over the past several years.