Welcome to the latest edition of the Sisvel Insights weekly round-up, aggregating news stories, analyses and data points affecting the SEP world that have caught our eye over the past seven days 

**Click here to get this newsletter delivered directly to your inbox every Monday** 

Ericsson is standing firm in its decision not to enter an interim licence with Lenovo on terms set out by the English Court of Appeal in a 28 February ruling. As a result, the court has now designated the Swedish company an ‘unwilling licensor’. Ericsson disagrees with the advisory opinion and will appeal it. While there are no sanctions attached to the ‘unwilling’ label, Lenovo is already seeking to exploit it by asking ETSI to take action. For now, the standoff continues. 

In the United States, the White House officially nominated John Squires to lead the USPTO. A co-founder of the Fortress patent investment fund, he brings to the job a background in patent finance and monetisation that sets him apart from his predecessors. With the Trump IP team in place, attention will shift to what its policy agenda might be. Sisvel published a statement last week encouraging the US Congress to pass three pieces of patent legislation that are currently pending. 

Elsewhere, patent owners participating in the Avanci vehicle licensing programme are ramping up the pressure on Chinese automaker BYD, with IP Bridge lodging a new SEP suit last week in Germany, and Sisvel announced a new deal under its AV1 video codec pool, with Panasonic agreeing to take a licence. 

Please note that inclusion of a piece in the list below does not signify agreement with what is stated in the linked article, just that we believe it is of interest and worth pointing out.  

Market  

The Sisvel AV1 patent pool announced Panasonic as its latest licensee. Sisvel | Panasonic agrees AV1 pool licence with Sisvel 

Sisvel Insights identified some notable recent patent assignments in the areas of wireless communications and video codecs. Sisvel | Thousands of patents change hands with licensors seeking cellular, video rights 

Legal 

Ericsson declined to enter an interim licence with Lenovo, leading the English Court of Appeal to label the Swedish company an unwilling licensor. Press Release – Lenovo | IAM 🔒 

Lenovo has complained to ETSI about Ericsson’s alleged unwillingness to offer it a licence to 5G SEPs. Exclusive: Lenovo seeking ETSI intervention in Ericsson cellular patent spat - IAM 🔒 

Ahead of a separate UK High Court FRAND trial between Ericsson and Lenovo, an English judge made several rulings about a 2011 cross-licence between the Swedish firm and Motorola Mobility. Full decision | Analysis – ip fray 

IP Bridge, an Avanci licensor, sued Chinese automaker BYD over cellular SEPs in Germany. Another Avanci licensor sues China's BYD in Germany over cellular standard essential patents - ip fray  

Samsung brought two new UPC suits against ZTE, expanding the pair’s SEP licensing dispute. Samsung countersuing ZTE in UPC: two filings from end of February have become discoverable – ip fray 

The Supreme People’s Court of China decided a case on malicious patent litigation, setting out several criteria for assertions to be considered abusive. China lowers the bar for identifying malicious patent litigation - IAM 🔒 

Policy & Opinion 

John Squires, former chief IP counsel at Goldman Sachs and a co-founder of the Fortress patent investment fund, was nominated to lead the USPTO by President Trump. Trump nominates ex-Goldman Sachs lawyer to head US patent agency | Reuters 

Sisvel announced support for three patent reform bills pending in the US Congress: the RESTORE Act on injunctions, the PREVAIL Act on the PTAB and PERA on patent eligibility. Sisvel | Sisvel statement on pending US patent legislation 

Strategy & Analysis 

Key jurisdictional differences have emerged concerning the ETSI IPR Policy and the scope of its obligations. Exploring the Differing Views of the ITC and CAFC on ETSI Licensing Declarations 

A potential exodus of PTAB judges could result in more US patent litigation in a reversion to pre-AIA patterns. PTAB workforce bleed could trigger more litigation - IAM 🔒 

Patent pools that engage with licensees at an early stage are more likely to achieve success, says Via LA’s Heath Hoglund. Via LA’s Heath Hoglund in Clause 8 interview: early licensee involvement is a sign of future patent pool success – ip fray