Microsoft takes Sisvel Wi-Fi MM licence; the AI FRAND negotiation revolution; ASUS and Lenovo settle; Adeia and RPX agree syndicated deal; 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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The Sisvel Wi-Fi Multimode pool has been on a positive trajectory since it was publicly launched at the start of this year. Last week, there was more good news to share as Microsoft became the programme’s latest licensee. When a company of that size and sophistication takes a pool licence on the back of tough but constructive and amicable discussions, it is always a significant validation of the programme’s patents and pricing.
The overall roster of Wi-Fi Multimode pool licensees, just six or so months in, is highly impressive and speaks volumes about not just what is on offer but also the skill of the Sisvel team taking the project forward. It turns out that combining high-quality patents, a fair royalty rate and must-have technology with people who know the market backwards from all angles produces something pretty special. So it is with the Sisvel Wi-Fi Multimode patent pool. “The programme is now building considerable momentum and I look forward to welcoming further licensees in the near future,” says CIPO Heath Hoglund.
Elsewhere, a new article by Sisvel’s Head of Portfolio Management, Sharaz Gill, explained why, thanks to AI, both licensors and licensees can now realistically examine all the patents in a portfolio rather than just a selected sample. This represents a fundamental change in information dynamics, he explained, and will have a profound impact on SEP licensing.
There was news too of a deal struck between ASUS and Lenovo that ends a long-running dispute between the pair; and Adeia and RPX announced that they have put together a syndicated licensing deal covering patents reading on intelligent search, content discovery, personalisation, recommendations, virtual shopping experiences, social commerce and consumer engagement technologies.
Please note that the 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 flagging.
Market
Microsoft has taken a Sisvel Wi-Fi Multimode pool licence in a deal reached on amicable terms. Read more (Sisvel newsroom). See also ip fray
ASUS and Lenovo have settled their multi-jurisdictional patent dispute. Read more (ip fray)🔒
Adeia and RPX have struck an aggregated deal providing a licence to e-commerce-related patents for 10 RPX member companies. Read more (RPX press release). See also ip fray
ZTE and China Mobile have both become licensors of the Sisvel POS pool, bringing the total number of entities offering their SEPs through the programme to 44. Read more (Sisvel newsroom)
Meta Platforms has become a licensee to Access Advance’s HEVC Advance, VVC Advance and Video Distribution Patent (VDP) pools. Read more (Access Advance press release)
Alibaba hasbecome a licensee of the Access Advance VDP pool. Read more (ip fray)
Nokia has joined the Avanci EV Charger programme as a licensor. Read more (Avanci press release)
Legal
The UK Supreme Court has heard three days of arguments between Apple and Optis as it prepares to make a consequential ruling on FRAND rates. Read more (MLex) 🔒
The Delhi High Court has ordered Transsion to pay a pro-tem deposit of an undisclosed amount to InterDigital in a case relating to cellular SEPs. Read more (ip fray) 🔒
Philips has asserted Wi-Fi 6 patents against TP-Link at the UPC. Read more (IAM) 🔒
Policy & Opinion
While courts in different jurisdictions are converging on some key FRAND issues, on others – such as how comparables, portfolio strength, essentiality, validity and geographic coverage are dealt with – important differences remain. Read more (JUVE Patent)
The UK government has postponed the publication of its response to a recent consultation on SEP policy due to an upcoming change in leadership. Read more (IAM) 🔒
Strategy & Analysis
AI makes it possible for licensors and licensees to analyse whole portfolios rather than just a sample of patents. Sisvel’s Sharaz Gill explains what that means for FRAND negotiations. Read more (Sisvel Insights)
It has been an extraordinary six months for patent pools, headlined by major programme and personnel announcements from Sisvel. Read more (IAM) 🔒
A series of high-profile SEP disputes moving towards arbitration suggests that implementers are becoming more willing to use alternative dispute resolution to settle FRAND licence terms. Read more (IAM) 🔒
