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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At a meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council on 22^nd May, a group of countries with large car manufacturing hubs asked the European Commission to rethink its decision to withdraw the proposed SEP licensing regulation. According to reports, the arguments made revolved solely around the needs of the auto industry and were not based on what might be best for SMEs, previously the main focus of those in favour of the proposed legislation. Meanwhile, another group of countries backed the withdrawal. 

Notably, it seems that even the member states asking for a revival of the plans agreed that the current draft of the regulation requires serious work. That suggests even if a decision to move forward with it is eventually taken, the time to implementation is going to stretch out towards the next decade. The industries in which it might be relevant are will all look very different by then, while the market and the courts will have developed solutions to problems which may currently exist or arise. Given this, second guessing what the SEP world is going to look like five years down the line, in order to regulate it, is probably not the best use of anyone's time.  

Elsewhere, John Squires – the Trump administration's nominee to be the next USPTO Director – gave a boost to those backing legislative PTAB and patent eligibility reform, while an en banc Federal Circuit threw into doubt the rile of expert witnesses in patent disputes. There was news, too, of positive developments for the Sisvel Cellular IoT pool, including the first-ever deal with an Asia-based module maker.    

Please note that 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 pointing out.   

Market  

Improved IP awareness is leading to greater engagement – and licence deals – for the Sisvel Cellular IoT patent pool. Sisvel | Sisvel IoT outreach efforts are bearing fruit    

Nokia settled litigation with China’s Sunmi, marking another success in its drive to license point-of-sale devices. Nokia settles Sunmi litigation as IoT licensing push continues - IAM 🔒 

TCL joined the Via LA ATSC 3.0 patent pool as a licensor following a SEP acquisition brokered by PurpleVine IP. Via Licensing Alliance - LinkedIn post  

Legal 

Expert witness testimony may come under increased scrutiny in the US following the en banc CAFC decision in EcoFactor v Google. EcoFactor precedent will transform rightsholders’ damages arguments - IAM 🔒 

The latest UPC SEP case is a dispute over the Qi standard between Powermat and Anker. UPC gets second Qi SEP dispute as Powermat sues Anker - IAM 🔒 

HMD Global was on the receiving end of two new UPC infringement suits – one filed by Orange and one from Navigate LLC. HMD faces new UPC complaints brought by Orange and Navigate (the latter over a Dolby patent) – ip fray 

HMD Global will also get access to the patent settlement between Huawei and Qualcomm, a US court ruled. HMD entitled to Qualcomm, Huawei license details, US magistrate judge finds | MLex 🔒 

Policy & Opinion 

EU member states with strong auto manufacturing industries back SEP licensing regulation revival, others say no. Euronews | IAM 🔒 

USPTO Director nominee John Squires expressed support for expanded patent eligibility and PTAB reform in his Senate confirmation hearing. MLex 🔒| IAM 🔒 

Strategy & Analysis 

Oppo IP chief Adler Feng says his company is increasingly focused on licensing out its internally developed patent portfolios. Oppo’s push for IP value beyond smartphones successful, says patent boss - IAM 🔒 

New guidelines show Chinese authorities’ eagerness to encourage patent pool formation to facilitate licensing. Patent pools to be the focus of China's latest innovation efforts | MLex 🔒