In September 2017, IP LeadershIP held its first conference in Europe. The event, which was attended by government enforcers and policymakers, practitioners, and scholars, featured diverse views on topics such as: • The importance of striking the right balance between the interests of...

On October 23-24, 2018, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held hearings on intellectual property (IP) and innovation as part of its broader ongoing hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century. The hearings focused on the role of IP protection in promoting...

Standard-development organizations (SDOs) “vary widely in size, formality, organization and scope,” and therefore individual SDOs may need to adopt different approaches to meet the specific needs of their members. Critically, to balance the needs of both contributors and implementers, SDO...

The generally well-accepted belief motivating modern antitrust analysis of vertical mergers — i.e., acquisitions that combine companies in different levels of the same supply chain — is that they are generally procompetitive or neutral. That belief is based upon a significant body of...

Investigations and litigation involving standard-essential patents (SEPs) have begun to spring up around the globe. In February 2014, the Korean Fair Trade Commission issued its first decision on the issue of whether seeking injunctive relief on a FRAND-encumbered SEP constitutes a violation of...

This article offers the following recommendations, focusing on #3 and 6:1. Specifics on how the Agencies will implement the principles set forth in the Guidelines. The Guidelines state throughout that the Agencies “may consider” certain factors; this language should be revised to say...

Several federal district courts, as well as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), have weighed in on the appropriate methodology for calculating either a reasonable royalty rate or reasonable royalty damages on a standard-essential patent (SEP) encumbered by a commitment to license on fair,...

On November 10, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a new Policy Statement regarding the scope of unfair methods of competition (UMC) under Section 5 of the FTC Act. The Statement was voted out along party lines with Commissioner Christine Wilson dissenting; it replaces the Obama...