InterDigital and Samsung in rare SEP arbitration pledge

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

InterDigital and Samsung in rare SEP arbitration pledge

Samsung sign on headquarters building in Milan, Italy. The Samsu

The Samsung deal is one of three new licence agreements announced by InterDigital today

InterDigital announced three new patent licences today, January 3, including a deal with Samsung that includes a binding arbitration process to set a royalty rate.

InterDigital and other standard essential patent (SEP) owners have publicly challenged implementers to enter into arbitration to resolve their SEP disputes. However, implementers have not always been keen.

Lord Justice Richard Arnold, a judge at the England and Wales Court of Appeal, has also promoted arbitration as a solution to what he recently called the dysfunctional state of SEP dispute resolution.

Samsung’s previous licence, which covered cellular wireless and video technology patents, expired on December 31.

“While we always prefer to conclude our licence agreements through amicable good faith negotiation, independent binding arbitration provides an effective mechanism for resolving licensing disputes,” said Liren Chen, CEO and president of InterDigital.

“I welcome Samsung’s willingness to enter into a new licence with us and their commitment to work through the remaining issues in arbitration,” Chen added.

Implementers have not always been ready to enter into arbitration, with parties frequently going to court or before other statutory bodies in disputes over rates, essentiality, and validity.

InterDigital today also announced new licensing deals with LG and Panasonic, covering products including TVs and computers. There is no indication those deals also involve arbitration.

Elsewhere, the US-based R&D firm is facing a lawsuit from Swiss semiconductor company U-Blox, which accused InterDigital of refusing to license 3G and 4G patents on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Jason Blair, a former special marks examiner, said Dykema’s Texas presence will help him build deeper connections with clients
Lee Curtis and Rachel Platts at HGF discuss the rise of the ‘intention economy’ and its impact on trademark law
Martin Wintermeier discusses taking a hit for clients, not letting stress get to you, and why being a criminal defence lawyer might have been fun
Exclusive data and analysis reveal why clients feel external legal teams aren’t providing business-centric advice
The head of the soft IP team at engineering group Sandvik, winner of the in-house team of the year award, reveals why a flurry of M&A activity led to a busy 2024
Lawyers at Herbert Smith Freehills outline what rights owners should be doing ahead of sweeping changes to EU design law
Deals between five more law firms and President Trump and an antitrust lawsuit against Amgen were also among the top talking points this week
US counsel explain how they win new cleantech IP business and how they’re navigating the industry’s challenges
Leaders at the IP firms, which have joined forces with backing from a PE investor, share their vision of building the number one pan-European IP practice
Firms will steer clients towards other ways of getting quicker examinations, but fear the ramifications of the USPTO’s decision
Gift this article