Dec 17 - The U.S. International Trade Commission said on

Tuesday that smartphones made by Lenovo's ( LNVGF ) Motorola

Mobility infringe patents owned by Ericsson, which

could lead to a ban on U.S. imports of the phones if the

decision is upheld.

An ITC judge said in an initial ruling that the smartphones

violate Ericsson's patent rights in 5G wireless technology,

handing Sweden-based Ericsson a preliminary victory in its

international patent licensing dispute with China-based Lenovo ( LNVGF ).

Spokespeople for the companies did not immediately respond

to requests for comment on the decision.

The full commission is scheduled to issue a final ruling on

Ericsson's allegations in April. Another ITC judge ruled for

Lenovo ( LNVGF ) in an initial decision in a related case last month.

Ericsson filed its complaint with the Washington-based ITC

last year, alleging that phones from Motorola's Moto G, Edge and

Razr lines infringe patents related to wireless communications.

Lenovo ( LNVGF ) denied the allegations.

The companies are also embroiled in patent lawsuits in South

America, the United Kingdom and North Carolina. Ericsson won

preliminary court orders banning sales of Lenovo ( LNVGF ) smartphones in

Brazil and Colombia in its infringement cases there.

A U.S. appeals court in October revived Lenovo's ( LNVGF ) request for

an injunction to bar enforcement of the South American bans.