ZTE-Oppo deal hinted; Automakers join Access Advance pool; More Wi-Fi 6 litigation at the UPC; US, Japan roll out national standards strategies; 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
A patent standoff between SEP heavyweights ZTE and Oppo appears to have reached a quiet conclusion. Patent market analyst Michael Ma reported the settlement – and an accompanying patent transaction – on his blog. The dispute dates to 2022 and is another sign of growing intra-market licensing activity among Chinese companies.
Elsewhere, Hyundai and Kia contributed patents to the Access Advance VVC pool, becoming the first auto OEMs to do so; and Wi-Fi 6 continued to be a hot UPC litigation area, with a new campaign launched last week. Meanwhile, at Sisvel Insights, Donald Chan, our Director FRAND & Royalties, gave his read on the InterDigital v. Lenovo verdict; and we put the US government’s national standards strategy under a microscope in the first edition of our new policy column.
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.
Legal
Another Wi-Fi 6 dispute has reached the UPC, with an Acacia Research affiliate filing suit against Technicolor successor Vantiva. Acacia NPE opens new front in Wi-Fi 6 dispute with UPC complaint against Vantiva - IAM (iam-media.com) 🔒
The Ericsson-Lenovo SEP dispute rolled on with court hearings at the UPC and the US Federal Circuit. UPC tosses Lenovo’s SEP injunction bids against Ericsson – ip fray | Lenovo wants Federal Circuit to make antisuit ruling – ip fray
The Delhi High Court issued an ex-parte interim injunction against KENGIC Intelligent Technology, a Chinese industrial automation company, based on patent claims from India’s Falcon Autotech. Delhi HC allows Falcon Autotech's injunction plea against Chinese firm - Economic Times LegalWorld
Market
Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia joined the Access Advance VVC patent pool as licensors. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Join the VVC Advance Patent Pool - Access Advance
Dolby Labs CEO Kevin Yeaman said the acquisition of GE Licensing and its 5,000 patents will deliver “durable, recurring, high-market revenue”, primarily realised through patent pool participation. Dolby CEO states GE Licensing acquisition adds “durable, recurring, high-margin revenue” - IAM (iam-media.com) 🔒
Licensing business Adeia announced a new agreement with X Corp. (formerly Twitter) and disclosed its financial results for Q2 2024. Adeia Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results | Adeia Inc.
ZTE and Oppo appear to have settled a licensing dispute that had resulted in Chinese infringement proceedings. OPPO settles licensing dispute with ZTE - by Michael MA (substack.com)
Philips acquired 5G SEPs from Oppo, USPTO assignments show. Philips gets 5G SEPs from OPPO, probably under recent settlement agreement and following OPPO’s recent Toyota deal – ip fray
After nearly two years on the market, 1,000 patents pertaining to outdoor mobile infrastructure were divested by CommScope. Louis Carbonneau | LinkedIn post
Policy
The US government’s comprehensive standards strategy contrasts with its lack of a strong position on global SEP issues. Sisvel | Despite lack of SEP policy, US government knows standards matter
The Japanese Cabinet Office is soliciting public comments on its planned national standards-setting strategy, which it hopes to formalise by spring 2025. Masaki Kataoka | LinkedIn post
Analysis/Opinion
Sisvel’s Director FRAND & Royalties Donald Chan shared five takeaways from the recent UK appeals court decision in InterDigital v. Lenovo Sisvel | FRAND lessons from the UK Court of Appeal ruling in InterDigital v Lenovo
Post-eBay data shows that permanent injunctions remain rare in US patent cases, but have climbed in recent years. Permanent injunction motions rare after eBay but their numbers are climbing - IAM (iam-media.com) 🔒
China Mobile IP chief Jeff Jia says patent pools “significantly [reduce] global licensing transaction costs and litigation risks” and offer “a very beneficial model for industry development”. China Mobile at forefront of domestic patent licensing, says patent head - IAM (iam-media.com) 🔒
US legislators should take up and pass pro-patent reform bills on eligibility, injunctions and duplicative IPRs, argues former Commerce Secretary Gary Locke US patent laws need updating for today’s budding industries (ft.com) 🔒
Courts that adopt an excessive focus on finding the “most comparable” agreement in a FRAND judgment could incentivise hold-out. The comparable licence approach and the “ND” issue in court FRAND determinations - IAM (iam-media.com) 🔒
