LG Electronics has filed a lawsuit against Chinese handset manufacturer TCL for infringing on the company’s LTE technology patents.

The lawsuit launched in the German district courts of Mannheim and Düsseldorf alleges that TCL knowingly implemented technologies in its handsets that infringe three of LG’s standard-essential patents.

LG claims numerous attempts were made to remedy its concerns but was unsuccessful.

In a statement released by Jeon Saeng-gyu, executive vice president of LG’s Intellectual Property Center, the company highlighted that it would take action to protect its heavy investments into LTE innovation.

‘As a leader in LTE technology, we have a responsibility to ensure that competition in the industry takes place fairly and legally.’

Jeon claims the lawsuit is aimed at protecting LG investments and challenging the unlawful use of its vital assets ‘to safeguard the competitiveness of the industry for future innovation’.