International Developments relating to SEPs: An overview

This article provides a non-exhaustive overview of recent international developments in the area of standards essential patents (SEPs), whereby it focuses on policy developments and excludes SEP case law matters from its scope. Against the background of the growing economic relevance of standardized technologies, it examines a selection of national, regional and international policy, institutional and procedural initiatives concerning SEPs. It includes SEP policy developments in Brazil, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as regional initiatives in Europe. As to developments relating to SEPs and IGOs with a global membership, the article mainly concentrates on WIPO’s SEP Strategy and implementing projects while briefly touching upon the WTO and the World Bank Group. Without advocating for a particular approach, the article identifies recurring themes across initiatives.