Robert McLeod (MLex)
Exclusive interview with Commissioner for Competition Almunia on IPR & Patents
Description
European Commissioner for Competition Joaquín Almunia shares his thoughts on Intellectual Property Rights and Patents with Robert McLeod, editor-in-chief of MLex.
The Competition Commissioner discusses the strategic use of patents, and the influence on innovation of such practices. Recent cases as the acquisition of Motorola Mobility by Google, have put the tactical usage of patents on top of the agenda. Mr Almunia elaborates by explaining the problems surrounding the strategic use of patents (00:47).
In such cases companies own patents that are necessary for operating within an industry that adheres to specific standards, in order to ensure compatibility and interoperability. As a result, these patent holders can eliminate competitors by not licensing their patent to a competitor or disregarding FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms) licensing conditions. Some companies want to strengthen their position versus competitors by actively building patent portfolios; the positive and negative aspects (02:49) are point of discussion.
Commissioner Almunia addresses the role of the Commission in this context and further elaborates on the European Union’s cooperation with the United States (06:12) in this particular field. He explains that there are some structural differences between both parties, but that overall cooperation is satisfactory. Having worked closely together with the American Department of Justice, the European Commissioner for Competition feels that European and American views are increasingly converging. The interview is concluded by touching upon the future outlook of patents and Intellectual Property Rights in Europe from an antitrust point of view (07:11).
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Posted on : 06/03/12
Hosted by : Robert McLeod (MLex)
Tags : Almunia, Competition Commissioner, European Commissioner for Competition, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Rights, IPR, patent portfolio, Patents, strategic use of patents
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Robert McLeod (MLex)
About Robert McLeod (MLex)
Founder and editor-in-chief of MLex market intelligence, Robert spent 12 years covering M&A, antitrust and investment banking in London, Paris and Brussels for Bloomberg, where he developed an unparalleled track record providing inside intelligence and commentary on the risk to investors from government regulation and intervention. An unquestioned authority in his field, Robert is a leading commentator on competition and regulatory risk issues.
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