Posted by ipeg on January 1st, 2012
2001 showed us a world economy in turmoil, financial instability in the European Union and a looming recession in most of the major EU countries, falling prices on major stock markets. How different the market for strategic IP was in 2011. The patent market did no less than transform itself into an astounding bull market, showing a true patent monetization frenzy in 2011.
The dramatic increase in patent acquisitions should not be exaggerated, as the trend can only be seen in the mobile handset technology market, whereas more traditional...
Posted by ipeg on November 10th, 2011
The European Commission has been pretty quiet about antitrust and licensing issues surrounding standard essential patents since the Commission ended its investigations against Rambus and Qualcomm in 2009. Both Rambus and Qualcomm were accused by its competitors of violating European Competition laws by their licensing behavior towards standard essential patents. Allegedly they misused their market dominance by demanding too high royalty rates for the licensing of patents protecting standardized technology, which necessarily must be implemented...
Posted by ipeg on December 17th, 2009
The recent European Commission decision on Rambus’ alleged antitrust behavior provides interesting insights in what royalty rates offered by Rambus can be regarded as “fair”, “reasonable” and “non-discriminatory”. The antitrust proceedings dealt with the licensing behavior of Rambus Inc. after the adoption of the DDR RAM industry standard by JEDEC. To implement the instructions of the DDR RAM standard, Rambus’ technologies – which are included in this standard – are essential. …
Posted by ipeg on May 5th, 2008
Standard setting is a big issue in patent circles these days, not only in the US, but equally in Europe. One wonders therefore what effect, if any, the decision of April 22 of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Rambus Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission D.C. Cir.”, No. 07-1086) has for Europe.
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