The Limits to IPR Standardization Policies as Evidenced by Strategic Patenting in UMTS

Rudi Bekkers, Eindhoven Center for Innovation Studies (ECIS), Eindhoven University of Technology, and Joel West, Lucas Graduate School of Busine ss, San Jose State Universi

8/26/2015
(Original Publish Date: 2/1/2009)

The impact of patents and patent royalties are a major concern of standards setting organizations. This study examines the patents filed in the standardization of UMTS, the third generation mobile phone technology developed under sponsorship of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute and others, using a patent policy developed in response to issues faced in the earlier GSM standardization. After contrasting firm strategies and policy effectiveness between the GSM and UTMS efforts, the paper reviews the potential impact of potential changes to the ETSI IPR policy