英国知识产权局发起标准必要专利意见征集
2021-12-10 19:52:59 阅读次

保护对实施一项标准至关重要的技术的专利被称为标准必要专利(SEP)。制造商(或标准的“实施者”)如果不使用SEPs保护的方法或设备，就很难制造出符合标准的产品，比如智能手机或平板电脑。

标准和专利可以跨越多个学科和部门。对于SEP所有者和实施者 (使用该专利的企业) 而言，以公平、合理和非歧视的原则获得 此类专利技术是确保市场有效运行的必要条件。

在电信和汽车行业(例如导航系统)中，无线技术(3G、4G和5G)的使用，就使得专利许可和标准使用尤为重要。 在许多新兴的 高增长行业，如物联网 (IoT) 和人工智能，不同制造商的产品需要能够无缝地相互“对话”，为消费者提供功能。 在某些情况下，为了满足这些技术标准，必须使用受SEPs保护的特定技术。

英国知识产权局认识到，由于商业是全球性的，不是孤立运作的，因此克服一些挑战可能需要全球合作。

此次征集意见的目的是为了更好地理解当前的SEPs框架如何鼓励创新和促进竞争。

征集意见将收集以下方面的广泛证据:  

SEPs、创新和竞争之间的联系，以及这些元素如何相互联系 ；
市场的运行情况， 以及在许可方和被许可方之间是否存在不平衡 ；
SEPs生态系统的透明度；
SEPs许可的效率、专利框架的功能和 FRAND诉讼。

英国知识产权局首席执行官蒂姆·莫斯表示：

创新战略的制定体现了英国政府提供创新驱动增长的长期计划，其中SEPs 发挥了重要作用。我们希望确保英国的知识产权框架保持强健，并继续被视为世界上最好的框架之一，跟上全球发展的步伐，并积极迎接围绕SEPs和FRAND许可的挑战。

这次征求意见将使我们能够围绕行业面临的挑战听取广泛的意见。这将有助于我们更好地理解知识产权框架如何支持SEPs生态系统，同时确保所有相关实体之间实现公平和平衡，并使英国创新获得最大利益。

征集意见活动将持续12周，截止日期为明年3月1日23时45分。在征集意见通道关闭之后，政府将评估收到的意见并发布意见摘要。这些意见将为政府决定如何采取的下一步步骤和行动提供帮助。

A patent that protects technology which is essential to implementing a standard is known as a standard essential patent (SEP). Without using the methods or devices protected by these SEPs, it is difficult for a manufacturer (or ‘implementer’ of the standard) to create standard compliant products, such as smartphones or tablets.

Standards and patents can span across multiple disciplines and sectors. Access to such patented technology on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for both the SEP holder and implementer (the business using it) is essential to ensure the market functions effectively.   

The rise in the use of wireless technologies (3G, 4G and 5G) in telecommunications and the automotive industry (for example, in navigation systems), has seen greater interest in the licensing of patents and use of standards.  In many emerging and high-growth markets, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI, products from different manufacturers need to be able to seamlessly ‘talk to’ each other to provide functionality for the consumer.  In some cases, meeting these technical standards will require the use of specific technologies protected by SEPs.

We recognise that overcoming some of the challenges may require global collaboration to reflect the fact that business is global, and business does not operate in isolation.

The purpose of the call for views is to better understand how the current SEPs framework encourages innovation and promotes competition.

The call for views will gather a wide range of evidence on the following:  

• the link between SEPs, innovation and competition and how these  elements interrelate with each other  
• the functioning of the market, and whether there is an imbalance between the licensor and licensee   
• transparency in the SEPs ecosystem
• the efficiency of SEPs licensing, functioning of the patent  framework and  FRAND litigation

The IPO’s Chief Executive Tim Moss said:

The Innovation Strategy sets out the government’s long-term plan for delivering innovation-led growth, in which SEPs play an important role. We want to ensure the UK’s framework remains robust and continues to be regarded as one of the best in the world, while keeping pace with global developments and challenges around SEPs and FRAND licensing.

The call for views will enable us to hear a broad range of views around the challenges faced by industry. It will help us better understand how our IP framework supports the SEPs ecosystem, while ensuring a fair balance is achieved between all entities involved, and the maximum benefit to UK innovation.

The call for views will run for 12 weeks, closing on 1 March at 23:45. After it closes, the government will assess the responses it receives and publish a summary of responses. These responses will inform the government’s decision on any next steps and action that may be required.

You can respond to the call for views via the document published on GOV.UK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ipo-launches-call-for-views-on-standard-essential-patents-seps