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New rules to promote standard-setting innovation in new technologies

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The Legal Affairs Committee adopted on Wednesday, with 13 votes for, no votes against and 10 abstentions, its position on new rules to support the so-called standard-essential patents (SEPs). These patents protect cutting-edge technologies, such as Wi-Fi or 5G, which are essential to a technical standard, meaning that e.g. no Internet of Things (IoT) products can be developed without using them. They also play a key role in the development of connected vehicles, smart cities and technologies to mitigate climate change.

The aim is to encourage SEP holders and implementers to innovate in the EU and create products based on the latest standardised technologies that will benefit businesses and consumers.

Emphasis on small companies

MEPs want to task the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to create a SEP Licensing Assistance Hub as a one-stop shop to provide free-of-charge training and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. EUIPO should also help small companies to identify which standard essential patent they will need to use and thus pay for when developing their products and on how to best enforce their rights, including how to be paid if they hold such a patent.

EUIPO competence centre

MEPs agreed on tasking EUIPO with new powers to help reduce litigations and increase transparency. EUIPO will create a register of holders of standard essential patents, it will verify which patents are really essential to a particular standard, what is the fair payment for the use of such a patent and provide help in related negotiations between companies. EUIPO should also set up an electronic database with detailed information on SEPs terms for registered users, including academic institutions.

The EUIPO competence centre would also train evaluators of SEPs and conciliators mediating between parties and establish rosters of EU candidates for these positions. MEPs added provisions to ensure these candidates have the necessary qualifications and are impartial. The competence centre would further cooperate with national and international patent offices as well as authorities of third countries dealing with SEPs to get information about the SEPs-related rules outside the EU.

Quote

Following the committee vote, rapporteur Marion Walsmann (EPP, DE) said: “The new instruments will bring much-needed transparency to an opaque system, make negotiations fairer and more efficient, and strengthen European technological sovereignty. For instance, in 5G almost 85% of the standard essential patents are in fact non-essential. The new essentiality test will stop the occurrence of over-declaration and strengthen EU SEP holders´ position in global markets. SEP holders will also benefit from an increased number of licenses, faster agreements, more predictable returns, and a reduced risk of litigation. SEP implementers, 85% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises, will benefit from legal and financial predictability.”

Next steps

The agreed text needs to be adopted by Parliament as a whole before talks with EU countries on the final shape of the legislation can start.

Background

The current SEPs market is fragmented, as there is no organisation in charge of informing firms about who holds which key patents and how much they ask for their use. This makes it difficult for companies to develop new devices using the technologies covered by these patents. The Commission proposed a new regulation on standard essential patents in April 2023 as part of the ‘EU patent package’. The proposal reacts to Parliament resolution from 11 November 2021, where MEPs called for a strong, balanced and robust intellectual property system.

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Torino and Braga win European Capital of Innovation Awards

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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew congratulated Donald Trump

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On November 7, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a congratulatory letter to the newly elected US President Donald Trump, wishing him health, strength and success in his upcoming second presidential term.

“Recognizing the enormous responsibilities of such a leadership position, we pray that your decisions will be guided by wisdom and compassion, as well as by the strength necessary to maintain harmony and security in your great and God-protected nation,” noted Patr. Bartholomew:

“The Ecumenical Patriarchate, with its ancient history and its fundamental commitment to dialogue and reconciliation, remains a constant supporter of all efforts to promote peace and understanding between people of different cultures and beliefs. We hope that under your leadership the United States will continue to support the cause of religious freedom and human dignity – values ​​that resonate deeply in the Orthodox Christian tradition and all faith communities,” the congratulatory letter said.

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The US excludes the last major Russian state bank from SWIFT

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The last of Russia’s major state-owned banks, which retains access to the SWIFT system for international payments in the world’s major currencies, will become subject to new US sanctions.

The White House is considering blacklisting Gazprombank, the Russian Federation’s third-largest bank by assets, which is a “hub” for gas payments with Europe. As the Nikkei reported, citing officials familiar with the matter, GPB could be subject to blocking sanctions: it would be barred from any transactions with US banks. A decision on sanctions will be made by the end of November – the United States has notified its G7 partners about this, sources told the publication, including high-ranking European officials.

Directly owned by Gazprom with a third and another 40% by its pension fund, Gazprombank is not yet subject to strict Western restrictions: in the United States it is only prohibited from raising capital on the debt market, although its top managers and a subsidiary are subject to blocking sanctions IT company. In the European Union, GPB also avoids blacklists, and only Britain has introduced blockers against the bank.

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