Lenovo controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2025
Marketing-text timing allegations
A reported proposed class action alleged that Lenovo marketing messages were sent during hours restricted by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The supplied source does not establish a final outcome.
2022
Sonrai Memory sues Lenovo over chip patent
Lawsuit filed
Sonrai Memory sued Lenovo Group and Motorola Mobility, alleging that certain products infringe a computer-chip patent. The complaint seeks damages and other relief; the source reports allegations, not a court finding.
Source excerpt
Last Friday, Ireland’s Sonrai Memory Limited sued China’s Lenovo Group Ltd. and its American subsidiary Motorola Mobility LLC claiming infringement of a patent relating to “improvements in computer chip architecture having multiple processors on a single die.”
The filing alleges that the defendants make, sell, and offer for sale certain products that directly or through the doctrine of equivalents infringe the ’014 Patent.
2021
False-discount pricing allegations
A proposed class action alleged that Lenovo used artificially high reference prices on its website to exaggerate advertised savings. The supplied source describes allegations in litigation rather than a final judicial finding.
2021
Nokia and Lenovo resolve patent proceedings
Settlement
Nokia announced that it had concluded a multi-year, multi-technology patent cross-license agreement with Lenovo, resolving all pending patent litigation and other proceedings between them in all jurisdictions. Lenovo will make a net balancing payment to Nokia; the deal terms remain confidential.
Source excerpt
Nokia Corp. (NOK) announced Wednesday that it has concluded a multi-year, multi-technology patent cross-license agreement with Chinese PC and mobile maker Lenovo Group Ltd. (LNVGY.PK).
The company said the agreement resolves all pending patent litigation and other proceedings between the two parties, in all jurisdictions.
Under the deal, Lenovo will pay Nokia but as said before, no amount was mentioned.
2020
Reports link Windows 10 updates to crashes and performance problems
Issue disclosure
In August 2020, an article reported that some users experienced blue- or green-screen crashes, reduced performance, and other problems after installing Windows 10 updates KB4549951 or KB4566782. The reports described user-reported issues following installation of these updates. At the time of the article, Microsoft had not commented on the reports. The article did not state the number of affected users, the cause of the problems, or any resolution.
The article reported that some users experienced blue- or green-screen crashes, reduced performance, and other problems after installing Windows 10 updates KB4549951 or KB4566782. Microsoft had not commented on the reports.
Source excerpt
微软在8月11日发布了两个更新--Windows 10 KB4549951和Windows 10 KB4566782，引入了一些安全修复，包括输入设备（鼠标、键盘或笔）的安全补丁。这些系统补丁又给一些用户带来了大问题。
根据报道，Windows 10的2020年8月累积更新似乎在启用Hyper-V、英特尔虚拟化或Windows沙箱功能时，可能会使一些电脑（主要是联想ThinkPad硬件）崩溃。
微软还没有对这些问题报告发表评论。
2020
Lenovo files antitrust suit against InterDigital
Lawsuit filed
Lenovo filed an antitrust suit against InterDigital over their patent dispute, alleging that arbitration is inherently biased toward achieving a non-FRAND result.
Source excerpt
14 April 2020
Complaint alleges form of dispute resolution is inherently biased toward achieving a non-FRAND result
Lenovo launches antitrust suit against InterDigital and slams suggestion to settle the pair's patent spat through arbitration
2018
Alleged failure to support Huawei in 5G standard vote; clarification and meeting minutes spark discussion
In 2018, Lenovo's position in the 2016 5G coding scheme discussions was questioned on social media, and the related allegations triggered a controversy over the brand's reputation. Lenovo clarified that it supported the Polar scheme; Caixin reviewed the meeting records, explaining the coding scenarios, proposals, and consensus formation process. This entry does not accept allegations such as the brand being unpatriotic that lack factual findings.
2015
Lenovo responds to claims about pre-installed software
Company response
Lenovo said it would stop pre-installing software that cybersecurity experts said was malicious and made devices vulnerable to hacking.
Company response
Remediation — Lenovo Group Ltd
Lenovo Group Ltd said it will no longer pre-install software that cybersecurity experts say was malicious and made devices vulnerable to hacking.
Source excerpt
Lenovo Group Ltd said it will no longer pre-install software that cybersecurity experts say was malicious and made devices vulnerable to hacking.
2015
Lenovo responds to concerns over pre-installed Superfish software
Company response
Lenovo apologized to customers over the inclusion of Superfish software on some consumer laptops and said it was working with users to enable removal. The software was reported to potentially expose laptops to hacking and unauthorized activity monitoring; Superfish disputed that consumers were vulnerable.
Company response
Apology — Lenovo
“We apologise for causing any concern to any users for any reason,” the company said in a statement.
Remediation — Lenovo
Lenovo Group apologised to customers as it works with users to enable laptop computer owners to remove pre-installed software that potentially exposed them to hacking attacks and unauthorised activity monitoring.
Source excerpt
Lenovo Group apologised to customers as it works with users to enable laptop computer owners to remove pre-installed software that potentially exposed them to hacking attacks and unauthorised activity monitoring.
The software was included on some models of consumer laptops sold worldwide between September and December and was turned off in January after user complaints, Lenovo said.
Superfish said in a statement that the company is “completely transparent in what our software does and at no time were consumers vulnerable.”