ANALYSIS: Global 5G Patent Fights Search for an Arena in 2023

5G’s increased speed and reliability have fostered new use cases in a variety of industries, from self-driving cars to remote surgery. Disputes about 5G’s standard essential patents (SEPs) have already started—and if 4G and 3G are any guide, more will ramp up in the coming months.

But where and how will these battles about what constitutes a “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” (FRAND) royalty for 5G patents be resolved?

SEPs are patented innovations that have been incorporated into the standard for a product or industry—meaning that practicing the industry standard is tantamount to patent infringement unless the implementer has a license. ...