Patents and Antitrust, Worldwide

Intellectual Property Law Practice Group Podcast

The smartphone patent wars have caused a great deal of litigation and consternation. As global patent litigation has accelerated, an international arms race characterized by competing alliances and massive portfolio acquisitions ensued. One recurring claim was "hold-up": certain patent owners, having given assurances that they would license their essential technologies on reasonable and nondiscriminatory (RAND) terms, sought to enjoin smartphone makers from practicing industry standards. Charged with protecting consumers, antitrust enforcers experienced pressure to do something.

The FTC and other competition agencies responded aggressively, clamping down on perceived efforts by owners of RAND-encumbered SEPs to hold-up standard implementers. They happened upon the rule that such patentees violate antitrust law if they try to enjoin a “willing licensee”—essentially a “no-injunction rule.” While that approach has intuitive appeal, is it consistent with core antitrust principles? Does the no-injunction properly consider whether the relevant conduct harms competition? Have the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's actions emboldened foreign competition agencies to act aggressively? These and other questions were addressed.

Featuring:

• Hon. Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Acting Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
• Mr. Alex Okuliar, Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP