Bristows UPC Director and Of Counsel Naoise Gaffney, in his role as an adjunct law professor at Trinity College Dublin, co-authored a paper in the August edition of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice titled “Say goodbye to my little FRAND: is the withdrawal of the European Commission’s Regulation on standard essential patents a missed opportunity or a dodged bullet?”

The paper explores the main features of the now-withdrawn proposed Regulation, assesses the perceived advantages and challenges that might have come with implementing key aspects of the proposal, and considers the achievability of its stated objectives. It also considers the worldwide effect the regulation of this area of law might have had for patent owners, product manufacturers and small/medium sized enterprises and the broader implications for technological innovation and international regulatory harmony.

It does so against a background assessment of the complexities of the current SEP licensing and enforcement landscape and the criticism that has been levied against the status quo.

You can read it in full by clicking here.