Debate on SEP Regulation Impact on European IP Ecosystem
Stakeholders in Europe’s IP ecosystem find themselves divided over the proposed SEP regulation even before its publication. Standard essential patent (SEP) holders, intellectual property experts, and the USPTO director argue it is a risk to the West’s technology leadership. They have proposed the need for further scrutiny, questioning the need for the regulation, as well […]
The European Patent Office Concerns on Proposed SEP Reform
The European Patent Office (EPO) recently voiced concerns on proposed SEP reform in a letter to the European Parliament. In particular, the EPO points to the lack of patent and technical competence at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The EUIPO is the authority designated to manage the new standard essential patents (SEPs) policy. […]
Changing Landscape of SEPs in the European Union
The European Union is experiencing a changing landscape of SEPs. Standard essential patents (SEPs) are critical to technological innovation. Standards, such as 5G, LTE, and Wi-Fi, are the technologies that serve as a basis for product development and interoperability. When a company files for a patent, they are establishing a baseline technology for other companies […]
Impact of EC’s Proposed SEP Overhaul on Technology Leadership
Critics oppose the European Commission’s (EC) proposed SEP overhaul rules believing it puts Europe’s long-term technology leadership at risk, and even the balance of the global knowledge economy. Cellular standards are the result of effective global collaboration. For those technologies deemed essential to the functioning of a standardized technology, businesses, researchers, contributors or SEP holders, […]
EC’s Proposed SEP Overhaul on Technology Leadership
EC’s proposed SEP overhaul may have a negative impact on technology leadership. Critics of the European Commission’s (EC) proposed overhaul of standard essential patent (SEP) rules puts Europe’s long-term technology leadership, and even the balance of the global knowledge economy, at risk. Cellular standards are the result of effective global collaboration. Technologies that are deemed […]
EC’s SEP Proposal Undermines Open Innovation
Experts believe the European Commission’s SEP proposal undermines innovation. Patrick McCutcheon, managing director of IP Europe, a coalition of R&D-intensive organizations whose inventions are protected by patents, has said the European Commission’s (EC’s) standard-essential patents (SEPs) proposal not only threatens the business models of IP Europe’s members, which include Nokia, Ericsson, and Orange, but “the […]
How the European Commission’s Defective Case Against Amazon is Likely to Unravel Along Already Discernible Fault Lines
The European Commission has launched back-to-back antitrust investigations into Amazon’s business practices in the EU. In an era where Big Tech keeps getting bigger, antitrust investigations and lawsuits are becoming commonplace. These two new investigations are only the latest ones to hit one of the “big four” tech companies. However, unlike previous investigations and lawsuits, […]
ICYMI: 2016 $15 Billion Judgment Against Apple Hangs on by a Thread Following General Court of the European Court of Justice Ruling
The News: The European Commission is fighting to reverse the recent annulment of a 2016 ruling against Apple by the EU’s General Court of the European Court of Justice (also referred to as the court of first instance). This past July, the General Court annulled the EC’s 2016 EC ruling against Apple in Europe, which […]
Apple Antitrust Probes Heat up 2020 for the iPhone Giant as it Faces Scrutiny in the EU and US
Apple’s App Store and Apple Pay Business Practices Catch the ire of Regulators, Lawmakers, and Other Tech Companies The News: Apple antitrust probes heat up 2020 for the iPhone giant, with scrutiny by both the EU and the US. Last month, the European Commission opened an antitrust investigation into whether or not Apple’s App Store […]
How 5G Could Alter the European Commission’s Aggressive Posture Towards US Tech Companies
While the average American consumer has probably never heard of Margrethe Vestager, the mere mention of her name is enough to make even the boldest US tech executive shudder with either fear, loathing, or both. That is because, as European Commissioner for Competition since 2014, Vestager has somehow managed to slap US tech companies with […]
The European Commission Strikes Again: Pay the Toll, do not Pass Go
A racket by any other name: The EC’s shakedown of US tech companies continues unabated. It’s that time of year again, when the European Commission announces its latest wave of hot new fines that it has conjured up to level the EU playing field against US tech companies. I am really not a cynical person, […]
What The European Commission Got Wrong In Ruling Against Qualcomm
This op-ed included contributions from Futurum Senior Analyst Oliver Blanchard Just a few days ago, on January 24th, the EC’s antitrust commission fined Qualcomm 997 Million € (or US$ 1.2 Billion) for allegedly “abusing its dominant market position in the LTE chipset space to prevent rivals from competing in the market.” A year ago, before […]
