Category: Licensors and/or Licensees
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Consumer electronics maker Vestel joins Avanci Video patent pool as licensor
Turkish consumer electronics manufacturer Vestel has joined the Avanci Video patent pool as a licensor.
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Judge throws out Samsung’s declaratory judgment action against Oura as no patent enforcement was specifically threatened; Samsung may try again
Context: Last spring, Samsung launched a pre-emptive strike against notoriously litigous smart ring maker Oura (which likes to spell its name as ŌURA) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (May 31, 2024 ip fray article). Samsung wanted to shield the Galaxy Ring, which it was then preparing for launch…
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EPO Patent Index 2024: Unitary Patent requests “exceeded expectations” despite stagnant European applications
The European Patent Office’s Patent Index 2024 found that there was no growth in European applications (-0.1%) compared with 2023, although unitary protection was requested for 25.6% of all patents granted by the EPO in 2024 – a 53% increase compared to 2023.
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ITC finds BOE Technology infringed Samsung Display patents but denies U.S. import ban, parallel trade secrets spat faces initial May deadline
The ITC ruled that while BOE Technology did infringe three of Samsung Display’s patents, the complainant did not meet the “domestic industry” standard and thus no U.S. import ban could be granted. In a separate trade secrets complaint between the two OLED screen makers, the Administrative Law Judge is due to issue an initial decision…
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ITC staff reiterates its view that Nokia, unlike Amazon, complied with FRAND and recommends U.S. import ban regardless of UK proceedings
The ITC Staff participates in some investigations as a neutral party defending the public interest, and its views are given significant weight by the ultimate decision makers.
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Munich appeals court lays out security-centric FRAND framework in VoiceAge EVS v. HMD as previously indicated; ignores input from EC, referral to ECJ still possible
VoiceAge EVS v. HMD could become the new Huawei v. ZTE, but the regional appeals court in Munich wants to leave it to the Federal Court of Justice to make the preliminary reference.
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Huawei to join Via Licensing Alliance HEVC/VVC patent pool as VVC licensor and licensee
“Via LA is thrilled to have Huawei jumping into the pool with it”, as VVC adoption is set to take off, President Heath Hoglund tells ip fray on the sidelines of the company’s first-ever Business Summit in Shanghai.
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Gallium nitride patent wars: China’s Innoscience claims “ultimate victory” in ITC litigation against EPC
The United States Patent & Trademark Office has invalidated the only remaining patent in a United States International Trade Commission dispute initiated by Efficient Power Conversion over gallium nitride patents, handing Innoscience a significant win.
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Indian court hearing reveals HMD offers only 1.5% of what Dolby is seeking: $15K instead of $1M deposit for standard-essential patent royalties
At a Delhi High Court hearing today, the enormous ask-bid spread between Dolby and HMD became publicly known.
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Samsung countersuing ZTE in UPC: two filings from end of February have become discoverable
Context: Before ZTE brought any standard-essential patent (SEP) infringement action against Samsung, the latter fired the first shot by bringing a FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing) action in the UK, followed by a SEP-related antitrust case in Frankfurt, Germany as well as a U.S. antitrust and contract lawsuit (March 3, 2025 ip fray article)….