日立金属 中国「標準」訴訟（続報） Chinese Court 1st. Mandatory licensing for Essential Facility doctrine

すでに6月3日の本webでも既報の日立金属の中国での「標準」をめぐる訴訟について報じたが、本日付のJohns Day法律事務所もこの事案について報じている。中国初のエッセンシャル・ファシリティ・ドクトリン（不可欠施設理論）を適用し、強制特許実施権の発動事案と注目をしている。

Johnes Day英文原文https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/chinese-court-enforces-mandatory-4677711/

In Short

The Development: China's Ningbo Intermediate People's Court ruled that Hitachi Metals ("Hitachi") allegedly abused its dominance when it refused to license patents necessary for the production of sintered neodymium-iron-boron ("sintered NdFeB").

The Significance: This is the first case in which a Chinese court applied the "essential facilities doctrine" to patents that are not standard-essential patents. The controversial doctrine requires a dominant company to provide its competitors with access to an asset that its competitors must have to compete.

Looking Ahead: Hitachi has appealed the ruling to the Supreme People's Court. However, unless and until that court overrules the decision, licensors with "necessary" patents should evaluate their licensing practices in view of the Ningbo court's decision. Licensors should develop and document their legitimate, procompetitive reasons for denying a license.

Photo: Unsplash Dan-Cristian Paduret