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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In another milestone for the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 licensing programme, HP became the latest major company to take a pool licence. Notably, the deal emerged from a mediation process ordered by a US federal judge in connection with an infringement lawsuit filed by pool member Wilus against the Palo Alto-based PC giant.  

In addition to Wilus, the agreement ended litigation launched against HP by Huawei and Philips, while also securing the company access to the relevant patents owned by the programme’s other licensors: MediaTek, Mitsubishi Electric, Orange, Panasonic and SK Telecom. 

HP joins close to 40 other companies that are licensees of the Wi-Fi 6 pool, including Cisco, Netgear and Acer. The pool is enabling these global players to compete on a level playing field while returning fair compensation to patent holders. It is a major success story. 

Elsewhere, there was big legal news out of Europe, where a German court handed down what is thought to be the continent’s first preliminary injunction based on a SEP. The decision was issued by the Munich I Regional Court in a dispute between Dolby and Roku over HEVC technology.  

Meanwhile, LG Electronics signed a bilateral licence agreement with Amazon covering Wi-Fi SEPs; and Sisvel joined four other patent owners as founding signatories of a WIPO pledge designed to ensure that IoT SMEs are offered the chance to resolve patent licensing impasses through mediation. 

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 

PC powerhouse HP Inc has obtained a Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 patent pool licence, securing access to all eight portfolios licensed under the programme. Sisvel | HP becomes Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 pool licensee, ending disputes with Wilus, Huawei and Philips 

LG Electronics has announced a Wi-Fi SEP licensing deal with Amazon. LG Signs Wi-Fi Standard Essential Patent License Agreement With Amazon | LG NEWSROOM 

Nokia has re-christened its licensing business unit Technology Standards and folded it into its new Mobile Infrastructure segment as part of an AI-focused re-org. LinkedIn post - Patrik Hammaren  

Legal 

Dolby has secured a SEP-based preliminary injunction at Germany’s Munich I Regional Court in proceedings against streamer Roku. Dolby wins Europe’s first-ever preliminary injunction based on SEP – ip fray 

Paramount has filed a UK High Court action against Nokia as the US entertainment giant contends with patent infringement claims in the United States, Brazil and the UPC. Paramount Sues Nokia in UK - by Michael MA 

Disney was hit with a second German injunction within the space of one month as InterDigital continues to apply pressure in a dispute over video technologies. InterDigital wins second German patent injunction against Disney: Munich I Regional Court – ip fray 🔒 

Policy & Opinion 

WIPO has announced an initiative in which five SEP owners, including Sisvel, have pledged to offer mediation to resolve any licensing impasses with SMEs in the IoT space.  WIPO Mediation Pledge by SEP holders to IoT SMEs 

The European Parliament will vote on whether to take the European Commission to court over its withdrawal of the EU SEP regulation. European Parliament to vote on whether to sue Commission over patent bill | MLex 🔒 

Strategy & Analysis 

A high-level policy forum convened by Sisvel in Italy has generated actionable proposals for boosting EU technology competitiveness. Sisvel | Intellectual property must fuel Europe’s innovation fightback 

Licensing administrators should follow patent pool best practices to foster an equitable and transparent environment for licensors and licensees. Burgeoning Patent Licensing Programs Necessitate Best Practices