Article One Collaborates with Thomson Reuters on LTE Research
Posted on Wed, Feb 22, 2012
This week, Article One and Thomson Reuters unveiled findings from a joint study of LTE patent portfolios. AOP and Thomson Reuters underwent a patent review process looking at all 3,116 patents and pending patents declared essential, as of September 30, 2011, by members of ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). Findings showcase that Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung and Ericsson have built the strongest LTE patent portfolios while also taking a leadership position in future LTE technologies.
Examining LTE Trends
To better understand the companies leading in this space, AOP and Thomson Reuters took a three-stage review process to identify the LTE patent leaders.
Stage 1 – Thomson Reuters determined essentiality of each patent by comparing it with the ETSI LTE specifications.
Stage 2 – The second step involved evaluating the novelty of each patent based on a review of prior art references which were part of the patent application process in the US and Europe.
Stage 3 – The AOP research community was asked to identify patents covering three LTE technology trends. The resulting data determined the top 3 patent owners for each of three LTE technology trend research projects.
Learn more in the final report, a whitepaper entitled “LTE Standard Essential Patents Now and in the Future”.
Expert Analysis
“This report indicates portfolio growth through patenting of key trend technologies (e.g., Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung) and acquisition (e.g., Motorola Mobility and Nortel). We expect that the LTE Standards process and litigation resolution will over the next decade result in a licensing regime for the smart phones industry to more closely resemble their forbearers, the telecommunications and computer industries. Patents rarely exclude competition in the long run, particularly where thousands of patents (e.g., 3000+ under ETSI LTE specifications) can apply to devices, LTE access and content/applications.” – Cheryl Milone, CEO and Founder of AOP
“Forward leaning, strong patent portfolios are now a must have, not a nice to have. Major mobile communications companies understand the importance of this as a means to maintain cutting edge technology, specifically around LTE. Key patent percentage ownership can change daily when the market is converging on rapidly changing solutions, such as VoLTE. Companies shown in the AOP technology trend results are driving the filing of patent applications to maintain and grow their prominent position in LTE patents.” – Marshall Phelps, member of Article One Board of Directors, report co-author
Press Coverage
The results of the joint study were publicized through an article by AllThingsD.com, a subsidiary of The Wall Street Journal. In her article “Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung Gear Up for the Next Round of Patent Fights,” tech writer Ina Fried writes that, “the results should help companies better understand where they fit when it comes to the next generation of wireless technology.” She closes with a quote from AOP Board Member Marshall Phelps: “Everybody knows right now IP is really critical, and if you don’t got it, you better get it.”