Event Recap: Protecting Patent Quality
Standard Essential-Patents (SEPs) in the UK
Summary The current SEP licensing landscape furthers the interests of a few large international SEP holders, while creating disproportionate barriers to the innovation ambitions of small businesses in the United Kingdom (UK). New survey data and UK High Court findings have demonstrated the urgent need for action to protect the [...]
Perspectives on the upcoming launch of the Unified Patent Court
On 23 May 2023, ACT | The App Association held an online event titled ‘Perspectives on the upcoming launch of the Unified Patent Court’. The event brought together App Association members who are affected by standard-essential patent (SEP) policies, academics, litigators, and industry experts. The conversation was centred around the [...]
Landmark Court Case in UK Highlights SEP Abuses of SMEs
A recent high-profile court decision from the United Kingdom (UK) shines light on a common abusive standard-essential patent (SEP) licensing tactic that has impeded internet of things (IoT) innovation for years. This case, involving a dispute between InterDigital Technology Corporation (IDC) and Lenovo Group Limited (Lenovo), seemingly has little to [...]
4/27/2023-Statement from Mike Sax, founder and chairperson of ACT | The App Association, on the European Commission announcement regarding the licensing of standard-essential patents (SEPs) under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms
The App Association welcomes the European Commission’s efforts to improve transparency in the system for licensing standard-essential patents (SEPs) and for its recognition of the central role small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups play in the innovation process and the development of the European economy. A SEP licensing ecosystem [...]