Nokia reaches 7,000 5G patent families; ZTE hits back against Samsung; US patent suits soar; “Tremendous opportunities” for Sisvel; 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
**Click here to get this newsletter delivered directly to your inbox every Monday**
Nokia is one of the world’s great connectivity businesses – and a major European asset. Last week it announced it had reached a significant milestone: it now has over 7,000 patent families declared essential to the 5G standard. But while the numbers create the headline, it is the quality of the assets the Finnish company holds that really matters. This is where the true value lies. A lot of people – especially outside the patent world – miss this very important truth.
In legal news, the 4G/5G dispute between Samsung and ZTE intensified, with the latter filing suits against the former in China, Germany and at the UPC. Meanwhile, new data showed an 18% increase in US patent cases during 2024. Sisvel Insights also published a compelling interview with Jukka Nihtilä, our head of business development who joined us from Nokia last September. The opportunity to get inside the mind of a world-class IP dealmaker is not a frequent one, so this is a must-read article.
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
Nokia provided an update on its 5G SEP portfolio and said it is in a leading position for 6G standardisation. Nokia reaches 7,000 patent families declared as essential to 5G | Nokia.com
Licensing company Vectis is seeking to establish a joint SEP licensing programme for Immersive Audio Model & Formats (IAMF), an audio technology. Vectis Announces Call for Patents Essential to IAMF | Business Wire
Legal
The 4G/5G SEP dispute between ZTE and Samsung escalated with new suits filed by the Shenzhen-based company in China, Germany and the UPC. ZTE fires back with Chinese/UPC/German complaints following Samsung’s UK FRAND suit - IAM 🔒
The UPC saw a total of 172 infringement complaints over the course of calendar year 2024. UPC updates: Tesla settles with Broadcom; Dyson close to settling with SharkNinja; observations on December filings – ip fray
A redacted version of the ITC’s findings in Nokia v Amazon was made public. Public version of Nokia v. Amazon ITC ruling in multimedia SEP case holds e-commerce giant responsible for unlicensed status – ip fray
Patent litigation filings in US courts rose by just over 18% in 2024, according to data published by Unified Patents. Patent Dispute Report: 2024 in Review — Unified Patents
A new complaint has come to light in the dispute between Samsung and KPN over a 2016 SEP licence deal. Four things to know about Samsung’s counteroffensive in SEP dispute with KPN - IAM 🔒
Policy & Opinion
EU firms that own patents generate more revenue per employee and higher wages, a joint study from the EPO and EUIPO found. Owning IP rights puts European firms ahead | epo.org
The Supreme People’s Court released a list of opinions on strengthening Chinese IP trial procedures to promote innovation. China's Supreme People's Court Releases "Opinions on Securing Technological Innovation with High-Quality Trial Services" - China IP Law Update
The European Commission’s rigid interpretation of the Huawei-ZTE dance steps contradict the practical realities of commercial FRAND talks, argue Eric Stasik and Maryam Pourrahim. Eric Stasik | LinkedIn
Strategy & Analysis
Our head of business development Jukka Nihtilä explained the tremendous opportunities for Sisvel around its core programmes and in new areas. Sisvel | ‘Growth mindset’ key to building successful licensing programmes
Sisvel leaders shared their thoughts on key trends to watch in the new year across dealmaking, law and policy. Sisvel | Patent predictions
There are three important takeaways for potential ITC defendants from the Initial Determination in Nokia’s case against Amazon. Three Takeaways from the Initial Determination at the ITC Regarding Standard Essential Patents in the 1380 Investigation | Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP
InterDigital experts in wireless, video and AI shared their tech outlook for 2025. InterDigital Insights for 2025 | InterDigital.com
