European Union: European Commission introduced the proposal for regulation on standard essential patents and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 (COM(2023)232)

On 27 April 2023, the European Commission introduced the proposal for a regulation on standard essential patents and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 (COM(2023)232). The regulation would impact the regulation of standard-essential patents (SEP), which are the patents protecting technology considered essential to a standard. In particular, the proposal aims to make the system for licensing SEPs more transparent, predictable and efficient by renewing the licensing framework and finding a balance between promoting innovation, protecting intellectual property rights and not blocking companies’ access to patents.