In today’s connected world, technical standards underpin the interoperability of countless devices. From their origins in smartphones and wireless networks, their implementation has expanded into smart home systems, connected vehicles, digital health platforms, and industrial control systems.

These standards often incorporate patented innovations, Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), which provide the common technical foundation required for devices from different manufacturers to work seamlessly together. SEPs play a vital role in accelerating the deployment of new technologies across industries.

SEP holders typically invest heavily in research and development, and rely on licensing to monetise those investments. Companies implementing the relevant standards must secure licences—often under FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) terms. However, because FRAND is not precisely defined in law, licensing discussions frequently give rise to complex negotiations or disputes.

At HGF, we support clients throughout the SEP lifecycle:

• Patent Drafting & Prosecution: We assist clients in drafting patent applications ahead of standards meetings and prosecuting those applications to align closely with emerging standards.
• Essentiality Assessment & Claim Charting: We have deep experience evaluating claim charts that map patent claims to standard specifications, whether for licensing, enforcement, or patent pool admission.
• Opposition Practice: We have extensive experience handling SEP oppositions, particularly in digital video coding and wireless communications. Our team has a strong track record of challenging weak SEPs to deter unjustified assertions and promote fair licensing behaviour. Our full revocation success rate is more than a third higher than the EPO average across all technology sectors.
• UPC & Litigation Support: Our close collaboration with our in-house litigation team makes HGF ideally positioned for Unified Patent Court (UPC) actions. We also apply our opposition expertise to stress-test SEPs pre-licensing or pre-litigation to support strategic decision-making.

We support:

• Technology companies contributing to standardisation
• SEP owners pursuing licensing or enforcement strategies
• Implementers seeking fair and FRAND-compliant access to SEPs

Whether you’re creating value through innovation or navigating the demands of compliance, HGF provides the technical, legal and strategic insight to help you succeed in the evolving SEP landscape.