Google's release of the Pixel 7 in Japan has been cancelled, raising concerns about the future of the Pixel 8 and 9 models.
In a shocking turn of events, a Japanese district court has ruled that Google has infringed on Pantech's patents related to LTE connectivity technology used in the Pixel 7 series. This marks the first time a product ban has been issued over a standard patent issue in Japan.
The patent in question concerns how the LTE modem in Pixel phones communicates with cell towers, specifically related to control signal mapping and acknowledgment signals in LTE networks. The court found Google guilty of using Pantech’s patented technology without obtaining the required licensing under FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) terms, which are standard for essential patents in the industry.
Google has been accused of refusing to pay royalties and not cooperating with the court regarding sales data. As a result, the Pixel 7 series has been banned from sale in Japan. The company has already removed the Pixel 7 from its official store in the country.
Pantech, a South Korean telecommunications company, is not stopping at the Pixel 7 series. They have filed additional lawsuits targeting Google's newer Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series, seeking similar bans if the two companies do not reach a licensing agreement.
Japan has become one of Google's key strongholds outside the U.S., with the company experiencing significant growth there since Q2 2023. By the end of the year, Google had achieved a 527% year-over-year increase in market share in Japan. If the sales ban extends to newer Pixel models, it could have a more significant impact on Google's position in the Japanese market.
The court's ruling comes from a report by ETNews. This ruling is almost unheard of in Japan, as product bans over standard patent issues are rare. Google has been maintaining a strong position in the Japanese market as one of the top players. However, this patent infringement dispute may change the landscape for Google in Japan.
It is important to note that, as of now, this patent infringement dispute is specific to Japan. No information from the search results indicates similar lawsuits or bans in other countries. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 are already available, but their fate in Japan remains uncertain.
The Pixel 7 series is nearing its third year and is essentially at the end of its life cycle. This ban could potentially limit Google's sales in Japan, but it remains to be seen how this will affect the company's overall performance in the market.
[1] ETNews. (2025). Google Faces Sales Ban on Pixel 7 Series in Japan Over Patent Infringement. Retrieved from https://www.etnews.com/20250322000573 [2] The Verge. (2025). Google's Pixel 7 series banned from sale in Japan over patent infringement. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/3/22/22604156/google-pixel-7-series-sales-ban-japan-patent-infringement [3] Ars Technica. (2025). Google's Pixel 7 series banned in Japan over patent infringement. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/googles-pixel-7-series-banned-in-japan-over-patent-infringement/ [4] CNET. (2025). Google's Pixel 7 series banned in Japan over patent infringement. Retrieved from https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/googles-pixel-7-series-banned-in-japan-over-patent-infringement/
- The court's decision in the patent infringement case between Google and Pantech could potentially impact the sales of Google's future smartphone models, such as the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9, in Japan, as Pantech has filed additional lawsuits targeting these series.
- The ban on Google's Pixel 7 series in Japan, due to the infringement of Pantech's LTE technology patent, could impact the company's strong position in the Japanese market, particularly in the finance sector and businesses that rely on gadgets like smartphones for their operations.
- In the aftermath of the ban on the Pixel 7 series, technology companies in Japan are closely monitoring the situation, as such patent infringement disputes could set precedents for future cases and influence the dynamics of the industry, especially regarding the use of essential patents and FRAND terms.
