Samsung Ordered to Pay $392 Million to ZTE in UK Patent Dispute

Samsung’s dispute with ZTE has taken a costly turn. The UK’s High Court of Justice ruled that Samsung must pay $392 million to license ZTE’s patents. These are standard-essential patents used for mobile connectivity, so Samsung can’t really ship modern smartphones without access to them.

UK court steps in after Samsung and ZTE fail to agree on deal

The fight is about FRAND licensing, which stands for fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms. Samsung went to court in London in late 2024 after both sides failed to agree on a renewal of their 2021 deal. It wanted the court to step in and decide what a fair price should look like.

According to Reuters, Judge Richard Meade landed on a number that sits between both companies’ demands. Samsung argued the fee should be capped at $200 million, while ZTE pushed for as much as $731 million. The final figure is significantly higher than Samsung wanted, even if it’s not as high as ZTE aimed for.

In fact, ZTE has filed similar cases in China, Germany, and Brazil as part of a broader strategy to pressure Samsung globally. This kind of multi-country litigation is pretty common in the telecom industry, especially when big licensing fees are on the table.

For now, neither company has commented publicly, and both still have the option to appeal. The UK remains a key battleground for these cases, as its courts can set global licensing terms. Samsung may not be done fighting, but this ruling already raises the cost of doing business.