Motorola could face a sales ban in the US if a recent initial ruling in a patent infringement lawsuit against Ericsson is upheld. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has ruled in Ericsson's favor, stating that Motorola's Moto G, Moto Edge, and Razr phones violated the Swedish networking giant's 5G wireless technology patents.
Potential Ban and Impact
The ITC is scheduled to issue a final ruling in April 2025. If the decision stands, Motorola could be barred from selling phones in the US market. With a 14% market share, Motorola is currently the third-largest smartphone player in the US. A sales ban would significantly impact its business and could allow competitors like OnePlus to gain ground.
Both companies still have time to resolve the dispute before the final ruling. Ericsson filed the complaint last year, claiming that Motorola's phones infringed its 5G patents. While Lenovo, Motorola's parent company, denies any wrongdoing, it hasn't yet issued a statement following the latest ITC verdict.
Other Lawsuits and Past Incidents
Ericsson has also sued Lenovo and Motorola for patent infringement in other markets, including South America, the UK, and North Carolina. In May, Motorola phones were banned in Germany over a similar patent dispute with InterDigital. This ban was lifted after five months when both companies reached a licensing agreement.
