IPWatchdog reports that on October 7, a coalition of 25 intellectual property and competition law experts submitted a comment to the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office. The group includes current or former U.S. judges, U.S. government officials, legal scholars, and economists, giving the filing a notably authoritative cast.
The comment responds to the UKIPO's review of standard-essential patent (SEP) licensing. According to the report, the experts argue that global device markets have flourished under arm's-length SEP licensing, where patent holders and implementers negotiate licenses directly. They appear to caution that moving away from this approach could disrupt the balance that has supported innovation and market growth.
The source presents the coalition's position without noting internal disagreement among the signatories or any immediate response from the UKIPO. As a single-source report, it leaves open how the office will weigh the comment in its broader rule-making process.