Month: May 2026
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UPC to become “default choice” for patent litigation across many industries, says Umicore Head of IP
The UPC is a “hugely important development in the global IP landscape” and is proving to be an “excellent forum” for patent disputes, Umicore’s head of IP, Sean Alexander, told ip fray in an interview at the third annual IP Dealmakers Europe. Umicore has filed one infringement case in the UPC and is considering filing…
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LG Electronics sued in Eastern District of Texas by Fortress-linked NPE wielding former TCL China Star Optoelectronics patents
It appears to be the first time that China Star Optoelectronics has divested patents to an NPE that have subsequently been asserted.
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UPC Roundup (1 week): Mannheim LD separates Ericsson patent cases; Munich LD narrows use of confidential licensing materials; strict scheduling standards
This is a summary of developments in and around the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in the calendar week of May 11, 2026.
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SEP strategies: Disney demonstrates why (F)RAND does not and cannot work for video streamers the way it does for display devices
For a long time, SEP enforcement against video streamers was pretty much non-existent. Now that there is a first major wave of such lawsuits and various injunctions have come down, fundamental enforcement-related differences become clear.
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Federal Circuit reverses fee award and sanctions based on broad scope of what is purely lack of merit
The Federal Circuit affirmed dismissal of mCom’s banking patent suits and upheld invalidity findings against the remaining asserted claims, but reversed both the fee award and the sanctions imposed against counsel, reiterating that unsuccessful patent litigation alone does not establish exceptional or abusive conduct.
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UPC infringement filings shift beyond Germany as German-based divisions’ share drops to 50% in April 2026
New data suggests a gradual shift in infringement filings away from Germany-based divisions. While Germany remains dominant, its share of infringement actions fell to 50 percent in April 2026, reflecting increasing claimant confidence in non-German UPC venues.
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SEP holders now have four ways of avoiding UK interim licenses; Acer, ASUS defeat pokes hole in their (F)RAND defenses in Nokia ITC case
Chinese SEP holders may even have a fifth way of avoiding UK FRAND jurisdiction. Meanwhile, for Acer and ASUS, the recent UK appellate ruling complicates everything in their disputes with Nokia.
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USPTO Director provides comprehensive explainer on discretionary denials policy in new decision
The Magnolia decision has essentially been used as a vehicle to communicate the USPTO’s evolving line on discretionary denials, offering detail for patentees and petitioners alike.
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USPTO Director dismisses more inter partes reviews under new rules against petitioners taking different positions on validity in court
Director John Squires is continuing to intervene to stop what he and others see as “bad faith” use of IPRs.