GSMA Calls On Standards Bodies To Follow ETSI's Lead On IPR
14 December 2006
Changes by ETSI will reduce the uncertainty around intellectual property rights
14th December 2006 - London: The GSM Association (GSMA), the global trade association for mobile phone operators, has called on standards bodies to follow the lead of ETSI - (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) and take steps to improve the transparency around intellectual property rights related to new technology standards.
Following input from the GSMA and other stakeholders, ETSI is making several changes to its policy and procedures to reduce the uncertainty surrounding intellectual property rights (IPR). Specifically, ETSI is improving the transparency of patents declared by IPR holders to ETSI as being essential to a standard and is streamlining the declaration process. Furthermore, ETSI is introducing safeguards that will enable IPR holders to voluntarily declare the terms and conditions attached to their IPR ahead of the standardisation of a new technology.
Moreover, it is no longer mandatory for ETSI to select technologies purely on the basis of their technical merits and regardless of other considerations.
Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer of the GSMA said: "As the underlying technologies in mobile telecommunications become more intricate, there is a danger that excessive cumulative licence fees for the use of intellectual property will slow, or even prevent, the adoption of new technologies within the worldwide mobile operator community. The changes announced by ETSI will reduce that danger. Other standards bodies should consider taking similar steps to create a less unpredictable commercial environment around new standards."
ETSI has further acknowledged the importance of IPR in standards by creating a permanent IPR Committee, which will meet when significant IPR-related issues arise.
About the GSM Association
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 215 countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's initiatives as key partners.
The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers. The Association's members serve more than two billion customers - 82% of the world's mobile phone users.
For further information contact:
Mark Smith / David Pringle
GSM Association
Tel: +44 78 50 22 97 24 / +44 79 57 55 60 69
Email:press@gsm.org
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