Xiaomi, a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company, has released its first intellectual property (IP) white paper. The document highlights Xiaomi’s achievements in the field and showcases its capabilities in technological innovation. The company is actively researching and developing in 12 technological areas, including 5G mobile communication technology, big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, and has sub-segments in 98 of these areas. Xiaomi’s commitment to technological innovation has contributed to its success in globalization, and IP rights play a crucial role in protecting and supporting further technological innovation for the company.
As of September 30, 2021, Xiaomi ranked 13th worldwide in the number of self-declared 5G patent families it holds. The company has also obtained over 29,000 patents globally, covering more than 60 countries and regions, as of September 30, 2022.
Wang Xiang, Partner and President of Xiaomi, spoke about the company’s dedication to providing users with top-quality technological innovation and respecting IP rights. He also mentioned that Xiaomi is committed to finding diversified solutions to settle IP disputes and to achieving a long-term, sustainable IP partnership that promotes technology inclusion for the benefit of a wider community.
The white paper highlights the complex IP environment facing Chinese companies with global aspirations, and how Xiaomi has used IP to support its business and technological growth by actively responding to lawsuits, showing a willingness to cooperate, and striving for a multilateral win-win strategy.
In an effort to meet consumer demand and empower the wider community, Xiaomi is working with global business partners to promote technology inclusion through the use of IP rights. The goal is to allow people all over the world to benefit from innovative technology and enjoy a better quality of life.
Xiaomi’s IP Drives Business Innovation
Xiaomi, a company that has expanded its reach to over 100 markets around the world through its “Smartphone × AIoT” strategy, offers a range of products and services including smartphones, smart TVs, smart home appliances, wearables, and internet services. The company has a strong focus on research and development, demonstrated in areas such as smartphone operating systems, imaging, charging, smart TV operating systems, and artificial intelligence.
As an example, Xiaomi’s patent protection has supported the continuous innovation of the MIUI system, with over 7,700 patents worldwide in terms of MIUI operating systems and software functions as of September 30, 2022. Xiaomi has also obtained over 700 patents in smartphone charging technology, including circuit architecture, safety management, and transmission optimization.
In addition, the company has over 1,000 patents for imaging technology worldwide, and has played a leading role in the formulation of over 260 national, industrial, and group standards.
Xiaomi’s IP system has supported the development of a wide range of usage scenarios in its smart living ecosystem, with over 1,200 AI-related patents globally. The company’s AI call noise reduction technology has been implemented in more than 60 products, contributing to business growth.
Xiaomi is committed to “Technology for Good,” and has incorporated accessibility features such as haptic technology, ambient sound recognition, and text-to-speech technology for users with visual, hearing, and speech impairments in its MIUI operating system. This allows more disadvantaged individuals to benefit from technology.
IP Empowers Xiaomi’s Global Ambitions
Xiaomi’s IP system was still in its early stages in 2013, with a focus on protecting its self-developed technology and obtaining patents for its hardware and MIUI operating system. During this time, the company also started entering overseas markets, including Europe, while primarily focusing on the mainland China market. As Xiaomi’s smartphone business grew rapidly, it caught the attention of patent holders around the world.
From 2014 to 2019, the company accelerated its expansion into overseas markets, beginning with India and Southeast Asia and eventually entering European and Latin American markets. During this time, Xiaomi’s IP rights grew rapidly, with over 2,000 global patent applications and an average of approximately 6,000 annual global patent applications from 2015 onwards.
The company faced several complex IP disputes during this period, including a patent lawsuit with Ericsson in 2014 that was eventually settled amicably in 2019 after a five-year legal battle.
Xiaomi also faced allegations of patent infringement from a non-practicing entity called BlueSpike in 2013, but the lawsuit was withdrawn, demonstrating the effectiveness of the company’s intellectual property rights in protecting its business development efforts. In addition, Xiaomi has obtained legal judgments against Sisvel and IPCom, contributing to the establishment of the FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) principle in the global IP field.
To further strengthen its patent portfolio, the company has used various means such as acquisitions, cross-licensing, and patent transfers. In 2016, Xiaomi and Microsoft expanded their global partnership, and since 2020, Xiaomi has made significant progress in IP globalization, accumulating over 29,000 patents in more than 60 countries and regions as of September 2022.
