Washington — The Computer & Communications Industry Association joined the App Association in an amicus brief supporting the FTC’s motion in a US District Court case involving Qualcomm’s patent licensing practices. The brief filed by stakeholders that represent both patent holders and licensees expressed the need to ensure Qualcomm, as the holder of standard essential patents, fulfills its obligation to license to everyone from downstream clients to competitors.
The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“Qualcomm chose to contribute its technology to standards and now benefits from its standard-essential patents. In exchange, Qualcomm agreed to license on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms. The law is clear that Qualcomm cannot interpret that obligation to include hidden, unstated limitations, or to refuse to license to a willing licensee. Qualcomm’s unwillingness to license competitors threatens wireless competition and could harm American competitiveness in 5G technology.”
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