Rna Rudi Bekkers

Intellectual property rights and standardization. The case of GSM

This paper investigates the role ofintellectual property rights (IPRs) in the process ofstandardization in the telecommunications industry. We take the global system for mobile communications (GSM) case as a highly relevant example, being part ofa high-tech industry in which standards play a large role. In the process ofdesigning the GSM standard, a lot ofattention has been given to IPRs, mainly to avoid a situation in which a single IPR holder could hamper or even totally block the development ofthe standard. Nevertheless, the ultimate GSM standard contains a large amount ofso-called ‘essential IPRs’, i.e., IPRs without which the implementation ofGSM products is impossible. The paper provides a general discussion ofthe development ofGSM and presents a database on the essential IPRs in the GSM standard. This database has been compiled on the basis ofinternational patent statistics, and the data that manufacturers have supplied to European Telecommunications Standards Institute, the European standardization body responsible for defining the GSM standard. We use this database to assess the dynamic IPR position offirms in the original GSM standard and its subsequent development.

Standards, Patents and Mobile Phones: Lessons from ETSI's Handling of UMTS

The impact of patents and patent royalties are a major concern of standards setting organisations. Here we examine the patents filed in the UMTS 3rd generation mobile phone standard, governed by the ETSI IPR policy in response to patent issues faced during the earlier GSM standardization. We contrast firm strategies and policy effectiveness between the GSM and UTMS efforts, and review the potential impact of potential changes to the ETSI IPR policy.

Managing patents in standardization: lessons from ETSI’s handling of UMTS

The impact of patents and patent royalties are a major concern of standards setting organisations. Here we examine the patents filed in the UMTS 3rd generation mobile phone standard, governed by the ETSI IPR policy in response to patent issues faced during the earlier GSM standardization. We contrast firm strategies and policy effectiveness between the GSM and UMTS efforts, and review the potential impact of potential changes to the ETSI IPR policy.