(速報)ドイツ最高裁判所で注目のSEP判決 2020-05-05 German Federal Court of Justice ruled SEP licensing
- 二又 俊文
- 2020年5月7日
- 読了時間: 1分
更新日:2020年6月18日
Sisvel v. Haier(BGH – Sisvel vs. Haier , Case no. KZR 36/17)で、HaierがSisvelを権利濫用と差別的行為を理由に上訴していた事案で、Haierの敗訴が確定した。この事案について、ドイツ弁護士から情報の提供がありましたので、速報として引用します。HaierがWilling Licenseeとしての(いかなるFRAND条件にかかわらず)ライセンス取得意思を明示していなかったことが敗因とみられる。
Dr. Ralph Nack(Rechtsanwalt, Noerr)よりの情報
Some very brief upfront remarks on this Supreme Court decision: Case: SISVEL vs. Haier, publicly reported here:
https://www.juve-patent.com/news-and-stories/cases/federal-court-of-justice-lays-down-new-frand-rules-for-implementers/
Outcome: Haier is not entitled to the FRAND defence; the Court seems to raise the bar for a successful FRAND defence in Germany.
Analysis: The grounds of the decision are not yet available, so the following is largely reading a crystal ball. However, in the oral hearing, the Presiding Judge made clear that Defendant must make an unconditional commitment to take a FRAND license, "whatever FRAND is". This could mean:
- Defendant must file a submission saying "I herewith unconditionally seek a FRAND license, whatever FRAND means." This would be a minor consequence, and the importance of this decision would be limited. and/or
- Defendant is not entitled to define a concrete FRAND royalty rate in its counter-offer, but rather must leave the determination of the FRAND royalty rate to (subsequent) court proceedings. This would be a very important amendment of the FRAND practice in Germany, as it heavily impacts the procedure. More to follow once the grounds of the decision are available.
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