Netgear takes Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 pool licence; Europe’s 5G SEP strength; Samsung UK suit targets ZTE; Chinese SEP enforcement regulations; plus much more
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
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Welcome to the first Sisvel Insights SEP/FRAND round-up of 2025, which covers the Christmas and New Year period that has just ended.
The big news over the last two weeks was the agreement which saw Netgear become the latest licensee to the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 patent pool. The US company joins over 20 others that have taken licences to the 200+ patent families the programme offers. As a result, Netgear’s Wi-Fi-related litigation with Huawei, one of the pool’s licensors, has been resolved. “We are delighted to welcome Netgear as a licensee of our Wi-Fi 6 programme and to demonstrate once again how the pool is an effective tool for the resolution of commercial disagreements. We look forward to welcoming more licensees in 2025,” said Giorgia Varvelli, programme manager for the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 pool.
Elsewhere, a new report revealed significant European strength in 5G SEPs. There aren’t many technology areas in which Europe is world-leading, but connectivity is an exception. In 2025 we will find out whether the EU’s policymakers understand this. If they do, the proposed SEP licensing regulation will, at a minimum, require a great deal of change. There was also news of a Samsung UK lawsuit targeting ZTE, while China’s patent office published a regulation with relevance for SEP enforcement strategies.
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
Netgear became the latest licensee of the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 patent pool, resolving litigation with patent owner Huawei that had spanned the US, Europe and China. Sisvel | Netgear becomes the latest licensee of the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 pool
Legal
Before settling, the Huawei-Netgear dispute resulted in China’s first anti-anti-suit injunction. The Supreme People’s Court ruling followed similar decisions in the UPC and Germany. Michael Ma | LinkedIn
A redacted decision explaining the statutory basis for the UPC’s AASI order in Huawei v Netgear was published. Huawei v. Netgear was only the second UPC anti-antisuit motion this month: a near-simultaneous one may have targeted Xiaomi – ip fray
Samsung Electronics filed a new UK patent lawsuit against ZTE on 19 December, possibly to ask the court to rule on a global FRAND rate. Michael Ma | LinkedIn
Policy & Opinion
CNIPA published a new regulation explicitly affirming that Chinese patent offices can adjudicate SEP infringement through administrative procedures. Junlin Pan | LinkedIn
California Republican Darrell Issa will chair the House IP subcommittee in the next United States Congress. Issa Again Selected To Lead House IP Subcommittee - Law360🔒
Strategy & Analysis
Europe has significant strength in 5G standards essential patents, according to research published by data services company Patently. Europe’s 28% share of 5G standard-essential patents dwarfs its companies’ market shares in cars (16%) and smartphones (< 5%) – ip fray
Analysis from GreyB pegs Huawei as the top holder of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 patents and identifies companies that have ramped up patenting activity. WiFi 7 patenting leaders: The innovators behind the fastest WiFi yet - IAM 🔒
Though much of the high-profile FRAND action occurred elsewhere, US courts and the ITC weighed in on a number of important SEP issues in 2024. U.S. FRAND / RAND Licensing Developments of 2024: The ITC and District Courts
Amid growing complexity in the SEP space, the market is getting behind patent pool solutions to simplify licensing and encourage balance. The Future is Global: SEP Licensing in China, the UK and EU in 2024 - IPWatchdog
