FRAND OBLIGATIONS IN SEP LICENSING: GLOBAL JUDICIAL PRACTICE AND THE LEGAL GAP IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Keywords:
standard essential patents (SEP), FRAND obligation, SEP licensing, antitrust law, global license fee, court jurisdiction, intellectual property, patent law of UzbekistanAbstract
The article analyzes the legal nature and practical effectiveness of FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) obligations in the field of standard-essential patents (SEPs). The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of the FRAND mechanism based on an analysis of the case law of leading jurisdictions, as well as to assess the prospects for its normative strengthening in the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The object of the study is the case law formed in leading jurisdictions (European Union, United Kingdom, China, India, USA), in particular, Huawei v. ZTE, Unwired Planet v. Huawei, Nokia v. OPPO and other major cases. Comparative legal and dogmatic methods were used in the research process. The results show that although the FRAND regime was formed as a “two-way street,” there are significant differences between jurisdictions. In conclusion, it can be said that the lack of special norms regulating the concepts of SEP and FRAND in Uzbek legislation creates a serious legal gap in the context of the digital economy and the implementation of 5G infrastructure.
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