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 

**Click here to get this newsletter delivered directly to your inbox every Monday** 

There are over 450 cities globally with populations of one million plus. Making more of them ‘smart’ is a major challenge for public policy. At the purely technological level, this involves huge deployment of IoT solutions and seamless cooperation between companies in different sectors and verticals, as well as between industry and government. In a Sisvel Insights article published last week, Jacob Schindler explained why many delegates at the recent LES International meeting in Singapore believed transparent and comprehensive pools are the best way to solve the patent licensing challenges this complexity poses. Also featuring in this must-read article is a discussion of indemnifications. They too were widely discussed in Singapore, with growing acknowledgement that questionable practices by some module makers are making things difficult for implementers. 

Elsewhere, Shanghai Langbo announced it will pause its internal licensing activities to focus on building a 6G SEP portfolio, while a group of EU member states – including some of the bloc’s biggest – urged the European Commission not to withdraw the SEP licensing regulation. There was news, too, of a big-name departure from Nokia.  

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  

After a series of recent deals, Shanghai Langbo Communication Technology is directing all its internal resources to building a 6G SEP portfolio. Langbo pauses licensing efforts to focus on 6G R&D - IAM 🔒 

Arvin Patel announced that he is moving on from his role as Chief Licensing Officer – New Segments at Nokia Technologies. Arvin Patel - LinkedIn post  

HP became the 20^th licensee of VideoLabs following the settlement of US litigation. HP settles US litigation with VideoLabs - IAM 🔒 

Legal 

VoiceAge EVS secured an injunction against Oppo in Munich. The codec licensor also brought a new infringement suit against Oppo affiliate OnePlus in Texas. SEP news: HMD has withdrawn its EU antitrust complaint against VoiceAge EVS, which has just won another Munich injunction against OPPO – ip fray 

A recent Federal Circuit decision has sharply narrowed the scope of inter partes review estoppel. Estoppel Gutted: A Pelican's Guide to Patent Litigation 🔒   

While recent UK decisions had downplayed the relevance of top-down FRAND royalty calculation approaches, the recent Court of Appeal ruling in Optis v Apple applied it with renewed significance. Reaffirming FRAND Fundamentals: A Detailed Examination of Optis v Apple - Bristows  

Policy & Opinion 

Patent pools are the best way to cut through the complexity of the myriad technologies and verticals involved in creating smart cities. Sisvel | Patent pools offer solution to smart city IP challenges 

EU member states, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, have urged the European Commission to rethink withdrawal of the SEP licensing regulation. Revive the SEP regulation, say Germany, France and other EU countries - IAM 🔒 

Strengthening anti-monopoly supervision of SEPs and patent pools are both mentioned as aims in the Chinese patent office’s latest blueprint for the country’s IP system. China Issues the 2025 Intellectual Property Nation Building Promotion Plan - China IP Law Update 

The US Government Accountability Office has issued a report strongly criticising the USPTO’s assessment and management of its patent quality initiatives. Patent Office Should Strengthen Its Efforts to Address Persistent Examination and Quality Challenges 

Strategy & Analysis 

A workshop highlighted Sisvel Tech’s culture of continuous learning to drive discussion on how Turin-area firms can retain talent and navigate change. Sisvel | How companies can stay ahead of fast-paced technology change 

Mattia Fogliacco was recognised as one of IAM’s top 40 market makers on the back of Sisvel’s strong momentum in Wi-Fi 6 and innovative dealmaking in Cellular IoT. IAM’s Market Makers of the year - IAM 🔒 

The use of connectivity standards such as Wi-Fi and cellular is on the rise in the medical technology space. Standard-Essential Patent Licensing Comes to Medtech 

Assertive legal strategies such as the use of anti-suit injunctions, alongside its growing importance as a net licensor and an R&D hub, underpin China’s strategic push to rebalance the global patent system. The New SEP Powerhouse: How China is Shaping Global Patent Disputes | Perspectives on Innovation | CSIS