Consultation on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs)
This consultation seeks views on measures to improve the functioning of the standard essential patent (SEPs) licensing ecosystem.
You may respond to the consultation via Citizen Space.
Citizen Space is a third-party platform used by the government for hosting consultations.
Alternatively, please send responses to SEPs@ipo.gov.uk
Since 2021, the IPO has gathered evidence to better understand whether the current SEPs ecosystem effectively promotes innovation and competition in the UK market.
This evidence indicates that there are some issues that may impact on the efficient functioning of the SEP ecosystem, including the lack of transparency around SEP pricing, asymmetric information concerning SEP licensing, the essentiality of patents in technical standards and a growing and complex litigious environment.
Government is consulting on how to address these issues in the SEPs ecosystem by seeking views on a range of measures designed to help create a balanced ecosystem for all parties involved.
There will also be opportunities to provide views on the consultation through wider Government engagement activity during the consultation period.