Standardisierung ist ein wesentliches Instrument zur Förderung von Innovation und Wettbewerb, was wiederum sowohl Verbrauchern als auch Unternehmen zu Gute kommt. Doch aufgrund der Tatsache, dass die Normen in der Regel durch Standardessentielle Patente (SEP) geschützt sind, kann die Standardisierung den Zugriff auf die Technologie behindern und denjenigen den Eintritt in den Markt erschweren, die nicht Patentinhaber sind. Normungsorganisationen (SSPs) haben die Aufgabe das Gleichgewicht zwischen den Patentinhabern und den Nutzern herzustellen. Die Patentinhaber sollen von den Nutzern eines Standards Gebühren erhalten, die die Akzeptanz des Standards nicht unnötig gefährden. Recht häufig kommt es zu kostspieligen und zeitraubenden Rechtsstreitigkeiten, weil die Parteien nicht in der Lage sind, angemessene und nicht diskriminierende Lizenzbedingungen (FRAND) zu vereinbaren. Eine solche Situation behindert zwangsläufig die Umsetzung der standardisierten Technologie und führt zu der Frage, welche Funktion die SSOs während des Standardisierungsprozesses und bei der Festlegung des Standards haben.

Standard-setting is an essential tool for promoting innovation, competition and resulting in benefits to consumers and businesses. However, due to the fact, that standards are usually protected by standard-essential patents (SEPs), standard-setting may obstruct the access to the standardized technology and create entry barriers into the market for those, who do not own SEPs. The afore-described events cause tension between the owners and the users of SEPs. In order to keep the balance between the afore-specified parties, standard-setting organizations (SSPs) come into play by requiring SEPs owners to license these patents on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Nevertheless, the latter attempt quite often results in costly and time-consuming litigation, because the parties are not able to agree what kind of terms are FRAND. Such situation inevitably impedes the implementation of the standardized technology into industries and calls for a re-consideration of the role of SSOs during the process of standardization and after the standard is set. In this work, the possible role of SSOs while improving the access for the users to the standardized technology will be discussed.

This open access book presents global perspectives and developments within the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, and discusses the bearing they have on policy initiatives that are relevant to the larger digital technology and communications industry. Drawing on key developments in India, the USA, UK, EU, and China, it explores whether key jurisdictions need to adopt a different legal and policy approach to address the unique concerns that have emerged within the technology-intensive industries. The book also examines the latest law and policy debates surrounding patents and competition in these regions. Initiating a multi-faceted discussion, the book enables readers to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex legal and policy issues that are beginning to emerge around the globe.

Patent Challenges for Standard-Setting in the Global Economy: Lessons from Information and Communication Technology examines how leading national and multinational standard-setting organizations (SSOs) address patent disclosures, licensing terms, transfers of patent ownership, and other issues that arise in connection with developing technical standards for consumer and other microelectronic products, associated software and components, and communications networks including the Internet. Attempting to balance the interests of patent holders, other participants in standard-setting, standards implementers, and consumers, the report calls on SSOs to develop more explicit policies to avoid patent holdup and royalty-stacking, ensure that licensing commitments carry over to new owners of the patents incorporated in standards, and limit injunctions for infringement of patents with those licensing commitments. The report recommends government measures to increase the transparency of patent ownership and use of standards information to improve patent quality and to reduce conflicts of laws across countries.

A comprehensive overview of intellectual property law, this handbook will be a vital read for all invested in the field of IP law. Topics include the foundations of IP law; its emergence and development in various jurisdictions; its rules and principles; and current issues arising from the existence and operation of IP law in a political economy.

"Part I [of this book] looks at the history, organizations, and policy considerations involved in setting standards. Part II offers best practices for patent prosecution and portfolio development for standards-related technology, including interfacing with engineers, portfolio development, preparation of SEPs, claiming strategies, and prosecution in the U.S. and other countries. Part III examines licensing and litigation issues for patents and standards, including FRAND licensing, antitrust issues, and litigation forum selection and remedies. Contributing authors provide their perspectives on the key issues in this complicated and contentious area, and offer practical guidance, charts, tables, timelines, practice tips, and more."--

This open access edited book captures the complexities and conflicts arising at the interface of intellectual property rights (IPR) and competition law. To do so, it discusses four specific themes: (a) policies governing functioning of standard setting organizations (SSOs), transparency and incentivising future innovation; (b) issue of royalties for standard essential patents (SEPs) and related disputes; (c) due process principles, procedural fairness and best practices in competition law; and (d) coherence of patent policies and consonance with competition law to support innovation in new technologies. Many countries have formulated policies and re-oriented their economies to foster technological innovation as it is seen as a major source of economic growth. At the same time, there have been tensions between patent laws and competition laws, despite the fact that both are intended to enhance consumer welfare. In this regard, licensing of SEPs has been debated extensively, although in most instances, innovators and implementers successfully negotiate licensing of SEPs. However, there have been instances where disagreements on royalty base and royalty rates, terms of licensing, bundling of patents in licenses, pooling of licenses have arisen, and this has resulted in a surge of litigation in various jurisdictions and also drawn the attention of competition/anti-trust regulators. Further, a lingering lack of consensus among scholars, industry experts and regulators regarding solutions and techniques that are apposite in these matters across jurisdictions has added to the confusion. This book looks at the processes adopted by the competition/anti-trust regulators to apply the principles of due process and procedural fairness in investigating abuse of dominance cases against innovators.