In a move that underscores the ongoing importance of global wireless standards, HP Inc. announced Wednesday that it has reached a multi‑year cross‑licensing agreement with China’s Huawei Technologies. The deal covers patents essential to Wi‑Fi technology, including the latest Wi‑Fi 7 standard, and provides each company access to the other’s portfolio of standard‑essential patents.
Details of the agreement
Under the agreement, HP will be able to use Huawei’s Wi‑Fi patents, while Huawei will gain access to HP’s related patents. Neither company disclosed financial terms, and Huawei did not specify the exact scope of the patents it will receive from HP.
HP described the arrangement as a routine licence for technology that is widely used across the industry, emphasizing that it does not signal a broader strategic partnership with the Chinese firm. “This is a standard‑essential patent licence covering Wi‑Fi technology,” an HP spokesperson said. “It is not new, and does not represent a broader strategic or commercial relationship, partnership, or collaboration with Huawei.”
Why standard‑essential patents matter
Standard‑essential patents are inventions that companies must use to ensure their products are compatible with industry standards such as Wi‑Fi. Licensing these patents is common practice for manufacturers of computers, printers, phones and other devices that rely on wireless connectivity.
Context of the deal
The agreement highlights Huawei’s continued role as a major holder of patents used in global wireless standards, despite U.S. restrictions that have required carriers to remove Huawei equipment from U.S. networks. Huawei has expanded its patent portfolio in recent years, previously reaching settlements with firms like Amazon and claiming a fee of $0.50 for each consumer device that uses its Wi‑Fi 6 technology. By the end of 2025, the company said more than 1.6 billion consumer electronic devices, excluding mobile phones, had incorporated its Wi‑Fi‑related inventions.
The new direct deal follows a lawsuit Huawei filed against HP at Europe’s Unified Patent Court in August 2025, alleging that HP used a Wi‑Fi 6 patent without permission. HP later joined the Sisvel Wi‑Fi 6 patent pool in November 2025, ending prior legal actions by Huawei and Philips. The pool provides companies with access to roughly 2,000 patents deemed necessary for Wi‑Fi 6 products.
U.S. trade restrictions and future outlook
Huawei has been subject to U.S. trade restrictions since 2019, when Washington placed the company on a trade blacklist that generally requires government approval before supplying certain U.S.-origin technology. While these restrictions limit Huawei’s ability to purchase advanced semiconductors and critical software, they do not automatically prohibit patent‑licensing agreements such as the one announced with HP.
HP, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, remains the world’s second‑largest PC maker with a 21.3 % market share, according to Gartner data. The cross‑license agreement ensures both firms can continue to develop and sell products that meet evolving Wi‑Fi standards without legal impediments.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
