摘要: |
在通信标准必要专利跨领域许可的进程中,通信产业与标准产品产业就供应链上的许可模式存在分歧。回溯分歧的发生背景和诉讼呈现可知,该分歧的实质为FRAND义务分歧,且应被锚定为终端级自由许可和组件级优先许可两种模式的争议。经总体检视,终端级许可将引致上游供应商实施行为法律确定性缺失、高交易成本困境与专利劫持的潜在风险,组件级许可则具有提升许可效率和抑制专利劫持的合理性,然而组件级优先许可义务的设定不符合比例原则。SEP持有人在有权自由选择许可层级的基础上,应充分履行包含FRAND谈判义务与SEP开放义务的FRAND义务,以消除前述风险。SEP持有人违反FRAND谈判义务的,将受SEP侵权不停止规则的规制,SEP开放义务则依托利益第三人条款的明确约定或合同解释得到履行。 |
关键词: 标准必要专利 FRAND义务 专利劫持 侵权不停止 利益第三人合同 |
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基金项目:汕头大学科研启动经费项目(项目编号: STF21008) |
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Research on FRAND Obligations for Cross domain Licensing of Standard Essential Patents for Information Communication Technology |
Zhang Yanghuan
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Abstract: |
In the process of cross domain licensing of Standard Essential Patents for information and communication technology, there are divisions between the telecommunications industry and the standardized products industry on the licensing model in the supply chain. The background and litigation presentation of the divisions shows that the essence of the divisions is a division of FRAND obligations, and should be anchored as a dispute between the two models of End product level free licensing and Component level priority licensing. After an overall review, it is found that End product level licensing will lead to the potential risks of lack of legal certainty for upstream suppliers' implementation, high transaction cost dilemma and patent hold up, while Component level licensing has the rationality to improve licensing efficiency and curb patent hold up. However, the obligation of Component level priority licensing does not comply with the principle of proportionality. The patentee should fully comply with FRAND obligations, including FRAND negotiation obligations and SEP access obligations, on the basis of the right to freely choose the level of licensing, in order to eliminate the aforementioned risks. The patentee who violates the FRAND negotiation obligation will be subject to the SEP infringement non cease rule, and the access obligation will be fulfilled by the explicitness or interpretation of the terms of the third party beneficiary contracts. |
Key words: Standard Essential Patents, FRAND Obligation, Patent Hold Up, The SEP Infringement Noncease Rule, The Third Party Beneficiary Contracts |