By Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has accused a senior Huawei executive of distorting facts concerning patent respect among rival companies.
At a recent company event, Huawei’s Yu Chengdong criticized patent infringements in the industry, referencing “dragon bone” technology without explicitly naming Xiaomi. However, Xiaomi had previously highlighted its “dragon bone” hinge technology during the launch of its Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, leading to assumptions that Yu’s remarks were directed at Xiaomi.
Xiaomi vehemently defended its position, asserting that its hinge technology was independently developed. The company emphasized the importance of adhering to scientific standards and urged Yu to refrain from unfairly criticizing competitors or misleading the public in the future.
Furthermore, Xiaomi clarified that its patent includes additional components not covered in the patent referenced by Yu. They highlighted that the patent Yu mentioned was made public in June 2021, months after Xiaomi had already disclosed information about its “dragon bone” technology.
Huawei, the sixth-largest smartphone maker in China, has not yet responded to requests for comments on the matter.
This disagreement unfolds amidst fierce competition in China’s smartphone market, with both Xiaomi and Huawei intensifying their efforts in the high-end segment. Notably, this isn’t the first clash between the two companies, as they previously sparred over smartphone camera specifications in 2018, exchanging verbal jabs between Huawei’s Yu and Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun.
