The text on this page was automatically translated and hence may differ from the original. No rights can be derived from this translation.
In December 2018, a consortium consisting of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Dialogic, and various independent experts was selected by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission to carry out a pilot project in the field of essentiality checks of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs).
More and more everyday devices rely on technical standards, such as many wireless standards. Many of these standards incorporate patented technology, and any party looking to implement a standard must apply for a licence for the associated SEPs. Although over 250,000 patents have been declared by their owners to potentially be essential for one or more technical standards, it is often very challenging for stakeholders to determine which patents are actually necessary. This pilot study explores ways to analyse the essentiality of SEPs on a larger scale, thereby increasing transparency in the market and making it possible to negotiate licences for such patents more smoothly. The outcome of the project is significant for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large corporations.
