European standards bodies begin work with global technology developers and users in Paris on 6^th October to create a European Vision for Standards Essential Patent licensing in the field of IoT and 5G. [Thursday, 05 October: Paris] Leading European standardisation bodies, including the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electronical Standardisation (CENELEC), have launched an initiative to develop an industry Code of Conduct for Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) licensing in the field of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) open technology standards. Work on the Industry Code of Conduct will kick-off in Paris on Friday, 6^th October. As with any European standards development, participation in this workshop is open to any interested organisation, particularly SMEs who will need 5G and Internet of Things open technology standards for their product or service offerings. The goal is to review the most efficient and widely-recognised industry methods and to produce a Code of Conduct and a methodology (CEN-CENELEC Workshop Agreement or ‘CWA’) – that outline fair and efficient best practices to the benefit of both technology licensors and licensees in the 5G and IoT ecosystems. Dr Bernhard THIES, CENELEC President highlighted that ‘CENELEC and CEN are proactively addressing the digital challenges and support companies with transparent, reasonable, clear and fair patent policies which are highly aligned with best practices at international level. This represents a solid guarantee for companies contributing to standardization, as well as for the users of the standards’. The workshop comes in the context of a forthcoming Communication from the European Commission on FRAND valuation and licensing of SEPs. As one of the original proposers of the workshop, IP Europe, the alliance of R&D intensive European companies and research institutes committed to innovation, believes an industry Code of Conduct can help all stakeholders to harness the potential of the Internet of Things, without the need for further regulation. Mr Mogens PETER CARL, Executive Chairman of IP Europe said: The Internet of Things is a game changer. It will fundamentally transform the digital economy, and if Europe wants to replicate the same global digital leadership it has shown in cellular technologies, it must stand-up for open standards and innovation sharing. Mr Kerry MILLER, head of IP Regulatory Affairs at Nokia said: “It is imperative that a European vision for standards is a positive one that promotes access, fairness, speed and efficiency while ensuring a fair return to innovators, in contrast with policies which have failed to promote those objectives”. Substantive work will start after the 6th October kick-off meeting in Paris with the aim of agreeing a Code of Conduct with all parties within the next nine months. -More- An open public invitation was published on Wednesday, 6 September 2017. Any interested organisation may participate in this initiative until its completion in mid-2018. -End- About IP Europe IP Europe brings together R&D intensive European companies and research institutes committed to innovation, from SMEs to global enterprises and non-profit research entities operating in a variety of industrial sectors. They all share a common goal: to maintain, at all policy levels, strong patent protection for innovators and support recognized fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory standardisation policies adopted by consensus that preserve fair compensation for innovators. IP Europe supports the use of Injunctive Relief against patent infringers and free riders that rely on R&D investments made by others to earn higher profits. IP Europe was originally launched by Ericsson, Airbus and France Brevets. Other organisations presented below are also contributing. The Fraunhofer Institute participates in IP Europe in its capacity of academic advisor and others companies and research centers are considering their participation. For more information, contact: Laura Lichinski +32 493298882 / laural@europa-insights.com