Patents in Standards & Interoperability

Tim Frain, Director of IPR, Regulatory Affairs, Nokia Corporation

12/15/2008
(Original Publish Date: 11/29/2006)

This paper explores the current debate around perceived shortcomings in the patent regime as it pertains to standardisation, specifically concerning the situation of unwilling (or unreasonable) licensors and licensees from the policy standpoint of ensuring access to standard-related patents for interoperability purposes, so that - in the public interest - standards remain open and commercially viable and are not blocked. It looks at possible approaches from both a legislative and a self-regulatory perspective.