Immersion Files Patent Infringement Lawsuits Against Xiaomi in Germany, France and India

Rhea-AI Summary

Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ: IMMR) has initiated patent infringement lawsuits against various Xiaomi Group companies in Germany, France, and India. The lawsuits, filed in Düsseldorf Regional Court, Paris First Instance Civil Court, and the High Court of Delhi, allege that Xiaomi's smartphones, including the Xiaomi 12, violate Immersion's patents related to haptic technology. Immersion seeks injunctions to prevent Xiaomi from selling these devices in the mentioned countries, along with damages for the infringement. CEO Eric Singer emphasized the importance of protecting their intellectual property after years of innovation in haptic technology.

Positive

• Immersion's legal action may strengthen its position in the haptic technology market.
• Potential for financial compensation from Xiaomi if Immersion wins the lawsuits.

Negative

• Litigation costs could be substantial, impacting financial resources.
• Uncertain outcomes of the lawsuits may affect investor confidence.

AVENTURA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ: IMMR), a leading developer and provider of technologies for haptics, today announced that it has filed patent infringement lawsuits against several companies of the Xiaomi-Group in Germany, France and India. Immersion filed complaints against Xiaomi-Group companies and their agents in the Düsseldorf Regional Court in Germany, the Tribunal judiciaire de Paris (Paris First Instance Civil Court) in France, and the High Court of Delhi, at New Delhi, in India.

The complaints allege that Xiaomi’s smartphones, including the Xiaomi 12, infringe Immersion’s patents that cover various uses of haptic effects in connection with such smartphones. Immersion is seeking injunctions that would allow Immersion to prohibit Xiaomi from selling the infringing smartphones in Germany, France and India, as well as costs and damages as compensation for such infringement.

“Immersion and its employees are proud of its rich history of almost 30 years of inventing innovative haptic technologies that allow people to use their sense of touch to engage with products and experience the digital world around them. Our intellectual property is relevant to many of the most important ways in which haptic technology is and can be deployed, and, in the case of smartphones, haptics is crucial to an immersive user experience. Many of our licensed customers are market leaders that benefit from our technology,” said Eric Singer, CEO of Immersion.

“While we are pleased to see that Xiaomi, like many leading mobile OEMs, has embraced the value of haptics and has adopted our technology in smartphones, it is imperative that we protect our business against infringement of our intellectual property in which we have invested heavily over decades of our history,” continued Singer. “We will vigorously defend our intellectual property when it is infringed.”

The complaints against Xiaomi assert infringement of the following patents:

• EP 2 463 752 B1 (German part) titled “Haptisches Feedback-System mit gespeicherten Effekten”
• EP 2 463 752 B1 (French part) titled “Système de rendu haptique avec stockage d’effets”
• IN 304 396 (India) titled “Haptic Feedback System With Stored Effects”

About Immersion

Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ: IMMR) is the leading innovator of touch feedback technology, also known as haptics. The company invents, accelerates, and scales haptic experiences by providing technology solutions for mobile, automotive, gaming, and consumer electronics. Haptic technology creates immersive and realistic experiences that enhance digital interactions by engaging users’ sense of touch. Learn more at www.immersion.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “can,” “will,” “places,” “estimates,” and other similar expressions. However, these words are not the only way we identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include any expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events, or circumstances, and include statements regarding our intent to vigorously defend our intellectual property when it is infringed.

Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, therefore we caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the inability to predict the outcome of any litigation, the costs associated with any litigation and the risks related to our business, both direct and indirect, of initiating litigation, the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the Company and its business, and on the business of its suppliers and customers; unanticipated changes in the markets in which the Company operates; the effects of the current macroeconomic climate (especially in light of the ongoing adverse effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic); delay in or failure to achieve adoption of or commercial demand for the Company’s products or third party products incorporating the Company’s technologies; the inability of Immersion to renew existing licensing arrangements, or enter into new licensing arrangements on favorable terms; the loss of a major customer; the ability of Immersion to protect and enforce its intellectual property rights and other factors. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in Immersion’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2022 which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made by us in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and Immersion does not intend to update these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

Immersion, and the Immersion logo are trademarks of Immersion Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

(IMMR – C)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230306005236/en/

Investor Contact:

Aaron Akerman

Immersion Corporation

514-987-9800 ext. 5110

aakerman@immersion.com

Source: Immersion Corporation

FAQ

What is Immersion Corporation's recent legal action involving Xiaomi?

Immersion Corporation has filed patent infringement lawsuits against Xiaomi in Germany, France, and India, alleging violations related to haptic technology.

What products are involved in Immersion's lawsuits against Xiaomi?

The lawsuits involve Xiaomi's smartphones, specifically the Xiaomi 12, which are claimed to infringe on Immersion's haptic technology patents.

What is Immersion seeking from Xiaomi in their lawsuits?

Immersion is seeking injunctions to stop Xiaomi from selling the alleged infringing smartphones and is also seeking damages.

Where were the lawsuits against Xiaomi filed?

The lawsuits were filed in Düsseldorf Regional Court in Germany, Paris First Instance Civil Court in France, and the High Court of Delhi in India.

How does Immersion view its intellectual property in relation to Xiaomi?

Immersion sees its intellectual property as vital for its business and is committed to protecting it against infringement.