A Delhi court has issued an injunction on domestic device vendor iBall from importing mobile handsets and tablets that infringe on essential patents of Swedish telecoms gear maker Ericsson.

The interim order by the Delhi High Court, which starts September 9, is effective until the court’s next hearing, the Hindu BusinessLine reported.

Ericsson had sued iBall for failing to sign a licensing agreement on standard-essential patents covering wireless technologies.

iBall is the top tablet brand in India, with a 14.9 per cent market share in Q2. It also makes smartphones, laptops and wireless routers.

The judge, Manmohan Singh, said that without the interim order, “Ericsson will suffer irreparable loss and injury for the reason that iBall will keep marketing mobile devices without the FRAND [fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory] agreement and without paying royalty”.

FRAND is a global standard under which patent holders agree to allow licensees the right to use patented technology.

iBall reportedly made no attempt to discuss the case with Ericsson before the 2 September hearing, BusinessLine said.

Earlier Xiaomi battles
In December Ericsson filed a complaint after Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi failed to respond to six requests for patent royalties, resulting in a ban on the import and sale in India of phones powered by Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek.

An Indian court said in February it would investigate allegations by Ericsson that Xiaomi is going against the order that banned the sale of some of its smartphones in the country.