Tesla has secured an important legal victory in the United Kingdom after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that its lawsuit over 5G patent licensing can move forward.
The automaker first filed the case in London’s High Court in 2023 against InterDigital and patent licensing platform Avanci. Tesla is asking the court to determine fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms for standard-essential 5G patents ahead of the introduction of its 5G-equipped vehicles in the UK.
The High Court dismissed that request in 2024, siding with InterDigital and Avanci. Tesla then lost an appeal before taking the case to the UK’s Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has now overturned those earlier decisions, ruling that patent holders do not lose their obligation to offer licenses on FRAND terms simply because they participate in a patent pool or licensing platform like Avanci.
The decision sends the case back to the High Court for further proceedings.
The dispute revolves around standard-essential patents (SEPs), which cover technologies required to comply with standards like 5G. Patent owners typically agree to license these technologies on FRAND terms so manufacturers can access them under fair conditions.
Avanci, which manages licensing agreements for multiple patent holders, said it disagreed with the ruling.
“We respectfully disagree with today’s decision and continue to believe Tesla’s claims are without merit,” the company said following the ruling. (via Reuters)
While the Supreme Court ruling does not resolve the dispute itself, it allows Tesla to continue pursuing a license for the 5G technology for vehicles sold in the UK.
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