Welcome to the latest edition of the Sisvel Insights weekly round-up, aggregating news stories, analyses and data points affecting the SEP world that have caught our eye over the past seven days 

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Just a few weeks after the Court of Appeal of England and Wales issued a headline-grabbing decision in Lenovo v Ericsson, the parties in the dispute have reached a settlement. A binding arbitration will determine the final terms of a cross-licensing deal.  

The news followed a change in leadership at Lenovo, where Taylor Ludlam has taken the helm as Chief IP and Litigation Officer following the departure of John Mulgrew. According to her LinkedIn profile, Ludlam joined the company as global litigation director in 2022 after more than 17 years in private practice with Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. 

Elsewhere, Nokia launched legal proceedings against Acer, Hisense and Asus in Germany and at the UPC in suits alleging infringement of multimedia patents. The move came shortly after the Finnish company reached a settlement with Amazon in a dispute covering the same technology. Oppo also found itself on the wrong end of litigation filed in Munich, while Sisvel announced that former Mitsubishi IP leader Yoshinori Shimizu has become the managing director of our Japan office.      

Please note that inclusion of a piece in the list below does not signify agreement with what is stated in the linked article, just that we believe it is of interest and worth pointing out.  

Market  

Ericsson and Lenovo have agreed to settle their SEP litigations around the world and enter a cross-licence with final terms to be set through binding arbitration. Reporting on the deal revealed that Taylor Ludlam has taken over from John Mulgrew in the Chinese company’s top IP job. Ericsson and Lenovo settle global SEP dispute days after Supreme Court application - IAM 🔒 

Sisvel announced the appointment of Yoshinori Shimizu, a longtime IP executive at Mitsubishi Electric, as the new managing director of its Japan office. Sisvel | Former Mitsubishi IP leader to head Sisvel Japan 

Legal 

Nokia launched new multimedia patent assertions against Acer, Asus and Hisense in Germany and the UPC. Fresh off the heels of its Amazon settlement, Nokia launches multimedia patent enforcement – ip fray 

Oppo has been targeted by Asus and Innovative Sonic with SEP suits in the Munich I Regional Court. ASUS, Innovative Sonic suing OPPO in Munich; both plaintiffs use same licensing agent (Celerity IP), are also suing Xiaomi – ip fray 

A trio of Via LA licensors sued Microsoft over HEVC patents in Germany. Via LA licensors suing Microsoft over HEVC SEPs in Dusseldorf – ip fray 

IP Bridge and Sol IP are seeking German injunctions against BYD. Heat turns up on automaker BYD – ip fray 

Ericsson’s appeal to the UK Supreme Court in its Lenovo dispute was published. Ericsson puts comity first in UK Supreme Court appeal of LJ Arnold’s interim license decision in Lenovo’s favor – ip fray 

Policy & Opinion 

Dina Kallay, Ericsson’s former antitrust chief, will oversee IP matters for the US Department of Justice as deputy assistant attorney general for international affairs. US DOJ picks Ericsson antitrust chief Kallay as international affairs deputy | MLex 🔒 

MEPs opposed to the withdrawal of the SEP licensing regulation are set to discuss the move with Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné on 23^rd April. Lawmakers seek clarity on patents withdrawal from EU Industry Commissioner | Euronews 

The PTAB’s structure has created unforeseen opportunities for abuse, says former USPTO deputy director Russell Slifer. Congress Must Reform The PTAB To Protect Small Innovators - Law360 🔒 

The UK’s emerging ‘interim licence’ practice for SEPs amounts to a regime of compulsory licensing, writes former USPTO head David Kappos. Direction of UK courts on “interim” SEP licences spells doom for innovation-based standards - IAM 🔒 

Strategy & Analysis 

Discussions at IPBC Europe focused on shifts in the global licensing landscape, with fast-moving developments in the UPC, UK and US driving the agenda. Sisvel | UPC, UK and US take centre stage at IPBC Europe