Ericsson sues Micromax for patent infringement

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson said on Tuesday it had sued Indian handset maker Micromax and its distributor for infringement of wireless patent rights. Ericsson was confirming an earlier media that it had sued after Micromax refused to sign license agreements for several wireless technologies. "It is once again about fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms," Ericsson spokeswoman Karin Hallstan said. She declined to comment further. Ericsson's 30,000-plus patent portfolio covers much of the technology that enables both mobile phones and the networks that support them to work.

Rivals hold other so-called essential standard patents and the industry has agreed a system of licensing on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms (FRAND) to ensure no one can block the development of mobile communications.

Micromax said in a statement it was "committed to negotiating a FRAND license with Ericsson as has Ericsson undertaken to providing a Fair, Reasonable and Non-discriminatory license to Micromax."

It declined further comment.

Ericsson has been getting tough over patents recently.