UK SEPs Case Law
This section of the SEPs Resource Hub signposts to relevant UK cases concerning SEPs.
Introduction
The Dispute resolution and remedies in SEP licensing guidance explores the types of disputes that may arise during the licensing process of standard essential patents (SEPs) and raises awareness of the services and options available for parties to resolve their disputes. As stated in that guidance, one example of where disputes are resolved is through court litigation. This section of the Resource Hub covers case information on disputes that have been litigated within the UK.
UK SEP case law
Below is a list of key UK SEP cases with an outline of the SEPs issue(s) dealt with by the UK courts and a link to the full court judgment. More information regarding the SEPs issues that have arisen in UK SEP case law can be found throughout the guidance supplied in the SEPs Resource Hub.
Table of UK SEP cases
This is a non-exhaustive list of UK SEP cases. Selected cases below are divided by UK courts and are shown in reverse chronological order:
UK Supreme Court
| Case | Key issues | Link to judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Unwired Planet International Ltd and another v Huawei Technologies (UK) Co Ltd and another [2020] UKSC 37 |
- Consideration of appropriate forum for determination of a SEP dispute - FRAND terms - Abuse of dominant position - Injunctions (and prohibitory injunctions) |
Unwired Planet International Ltd and another v Huawei Technologies (UK) Co Ltd and another - Find case law - The National Archives |
UK Court of Appeal
| Case | Key issues | Link to judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Optis Cellular Technology LLC & Ors. v Apple Retail U.K. Limited & Ors. (Trial “F)” [2022] EWCA Civ 1411 |
- Consideration of ETSI IPR Policy Clause 6.1 (policy wording) - FRAND terms - Undertakings - Injunctions |
Optis Cellular Technology LLC & Ors. v Apple Retail U.K. Limited & Ors. - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Nokia Technologies OY & Anor. v OnePlus Technology (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd & Ors. [2022] EWCA Civ 947 |
- Consideration of appropriate forum for determination of a SEP dispute - FRAND terms - Judicial decision-making - Licences |
Nokia Technologies OY & Anor. v OnePlus Technology (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd & Ors. - Find case law - The National Archives |
| TQ Delta LLC v ZyXel Communications UK Limited & anr [2019] EWCA Civ 1277 |
- FRAND terms - Licences |
TQ Delta, LLC v Zyxel Communications UK Ltd & Anor - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd v Conversant Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L. [2019] EWCA Civ 38 |
- Consideration of appropriate forum for determination of a SEP dispute - Jurisdiction; China - Validity |
Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd v Conversant Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L. - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Unwired Planet International Ltd & Anor v Huawei Technologies Co Ltd & Anor (Rev 1) [2018] EWCA Civ 2344 (Appealed to the case [2020] UKSC 37) |
- Abuse of dominant position - FRAND terms; determination (consideration of non-discrimination) - Injunctions |
Unwired Planet International Ltd & Anor v Huawei Technologies Co Ltd & Anor (Rev 1) - Find case law - The National Archives |
England and Wales High Court of Justice
| Case | Key issue | Link to judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo Group Limited & Ors v Ericsson & Ors [2024] EWHC 846 (Ch) |
- Consideration of appropriate forum for determination of a SEP dispute - Jurisdiction; Service out of jurisdiction |
Lenovo Group Ltd & Ors v Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) & Anor [2024] EWHC 846 (Ch) (18 April 2024) (bailii.org) |
| Lenovo Group Limited & Ors v InterDigital Technology Corporation & Ors [2024] EWHC 596 (Ch) |
- FRAND terms - Interim declarations - Foreign proceedings; Germany - Stay of proceedings |
Lenovo Group Ltd & Ors v InterDigital Technology Corporation & Ors [2024] EWHC 596 (Ch) (21 March 2024) (bailii.org) |
| Nokia Technologies Oy & Anor v OnePlus Technology (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd & Ors [2023] EWHC 1912 (Pat) |
- Abuse of dominant position - FRAND terms - Jurisdiction China; Foreign law; Foreign proceedings - Undertakings - Injunction |
Nokia Technologies Oy & Anor v OnePlus Technology (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd & Ors - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Interdigital Technology Corporation v Lenovo Group Limited [2023] EWHC 539 (Pat) |
- FRAND terms - Injunctions - Licences |
Interdigital Technology Corporation & Ors. v Lenovo Group Limited & Ors. - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Koninklijke Philips N.V. v Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp, Ltd & Ors. [2022] EWHC 1703 (Pat) |
- Patent infringement - FRAND terms - Anti-suit injunction |
Koninklijke Philips N.V. v Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp, Ltd & Ors. - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Kigen (UK) Limited v Thales Dis France SA [2022] EWHC 2846 (Pat) |
- FRAND terms - Licences - Case management - Stay of proceedings |
Kigen (UK) Limited v Thales Dis France SA - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Optis Cellular Technology LLC v Apple Retail UK Ltd (Trial “F”) [2021] EWHC 2564 (Pat) (Appealed to case [2022] EWCA Civ 1411) |
- Consideration of ETSI IPR Policy Clause 6.1 - FRAND terms - Abuse of a dominant position - Injunctions |
Optis Cellular Technology LLC & Ors v Apple Retail UK Ltd & Ors [2021] EWHC 2564 (Pat) (27 September 2021) (bailii.org) |
| Unwired Planet International Ltd v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd & Anor [2017] EWHC 711 (Pat) (Appealed to case [2018] EWCA Civ 2344) |
- FRAND terms - Abuse of dominant position - Final Injunctions - Declarations |
Unwired Planet International Ltd v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd & Anor - Find case law - The National Archives |
| Conversant v Huawei and ZTE [2018] EWHC 2549 (Ch) |
- Patent infringement - Anti-suit injunction |
Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd & Ors - Find case law - The National Archives |
Global SEP litigation
SEP litigation can occur globally, with multiple global jurisdictions hearing and issuing decisions on SEP disputes.
More case information on global SEP dispute cases can be found using WIPO Lex. WIPO Lex is a free online source which provides access to legal information on intellectual property from around the world. Please note not all global SEP dispute cases will be hosted on WIPO Lex.
For further queries about WIPO Lex please refer to, WIPO Lex Frequently Asked Questions.
Disclaimer
This UK SEPs case law information is for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute legal, business, financial or other professional advice and should not be relied upon when taking IP related, business, legal or other decisions. The IPO is not responsible for the use that might be made of this information. Appropriate professional advice should be sought. This UK SEPs case law resource is not a substitute for proper legal advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up to date as at the time of publication, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions (including on third party websites and material signposted above).
The IPO provides guidance on how to find Specialist and Legal IP Support: