In July this year, three American universities, the State University of New York, the University of Connecticut and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, filed lawsuits against Xiaomi and Huami Technology, accusing them of infringing seven U.S. patents related to the health monitoring function of smart watches and bracelets. The three universities argue that Xiaomi's algorithms and systems infringe Dr. Kichon's patented technology. Surprisingly, however, the three universities recently took aim at Huawei, also suing Huawei for infringing Dr. Kichon's patented technology. This has sparked speculation and concern about why these three universities are suing Xiaomi and Huawei in a rowIs there a deeper reason for this?This article will dive into this**.
1. Xiaomi's popularity and market share
As a well-known technology company in China, Xiaomi has quickly made a name for itself around the world with its innovative products and good reputation, especially in the field of smartwatches and bracelets. According to the data of the third quarter of 2023, Xiaomi ranks second in the global smartwatch and bracelet category, second only to Apple. Xiaomi's growth has also been very rapid, with a growth rate of 39%. This momentum has made it a competitor on a par with Apple.
2. The economic interests of American universities
U.S. universities play a pivotal role in research and innovation, with a large number of patented technologies. Suing Xiaomi will not only protect the intellectual property rights of these universities, but also bring huge financial benefits to the universities. Patent litigation in the U.S. is huge, and if successful, the fines can be significant, which is a huge asset for financially struggling universities.
3. Suppression of Huawei products
The rise of Xiaomi, coupled with the emergence of Huawei, is undoubtedly a threat to traditional American companies, and it has also put pressure on American universities and companies. The prosecution provides them with a means to protect the interests of U.S. companies by restricting the development of companies such as Xiaomi and Huawei through injunctions or other means.
1. Impact on Huawei
As a leading communications equipment manufacturer in China, Huawei has also increased its investment in the field of wearable devices in recent years, and has achieved good results in the global market. According to the data, Huawei ranks third in the global smartwatch and bracelet category, which is not much different from Apple. It can be seen that Huawei's rapid development momentum in this field has also caused concern among American universities and enterprises.
2. Repeated prosecution and litigation risks
After the American university sued Xiaomi, it successfully defended its intellectual property rights and reaped a lot of benefits from it. Therefore, in the face of Huawei's infringement of its patented technology, the three universities chose to sue again, hoping to get more benefits. However, this is not just an intra-U.S. lawsuit, and it could also have global implications. Huawei sells its products globally, and if they lose the lawsuit, these universities may file similar lawsuits in other countries, further affecting Huawei's growth in the global market.
1. The battle for manufacturing international technology giants
Judging by the actions of the prosecution of Xiaomi and Huawei, it seems that American universities and companies are not only interested in their own interests, but also want to limit China's development in the high-tech field. The rise of Chinese technology companies has threatened the United States and other countries, and the lawsuit is a means of deterring itself from protecting its own interests and undermining the competitiveness of Chinese companies, thereby maintaining America's dominance in the high-tech industry.
2. Cooperate to resist pressure from the West
Xiaomi and Huawei may choose to join forces in the face of this challenge. After all, there are many common interests between the two companies, such as technological innovation, market share, etc. By working together, they can strengthen their cooperation and strive to gain a foothold in the global market and make greater progress. At the same time, it is also a way for China's high-tech industry to fight back in the face of international pressure.
The State University of New York, the University of Connecticut, and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute have sued Xiaomi and Huawei successively, with various motives and purposes behind them. This includes not only the consideration of maintaining intellectual property rights and the pursuit of economic interests, but also concerns about the competitive pressure of Xiaomi and Huawei's products, and it is also an inhibition of the rise of China's high-tech industry. Xiaomi and Huawei, for their part, may work together to resist this hooliganism and seek international cooperation to protect their interests and advance China's tech industry in response to Western pressure. The lawsuit is both a business competition and an international wrestling, and the outcome will have a significant impact on the global technology landscape.