Standard-Essential Patents – SEPs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18256/2238-0604.2026.v22i.5335Keywords:
Standard Essential patentes; SEPs; FRAND licensing; Informtion and communication technologies (ICTs); patent litigation; competition law.Abstract
Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs) hold a central position in the functioning of modern technology markets. In sectors such as telecommunications, computing, and the Internet of Things, technical standards are established to ensure interoperability between products and services. When the implementation of these standards necessarily uses patented technologies, such patents are considered "essential." This study examines the concept of an essential patent, its historical development, the role of standard-setting organizations, the commitment to license on FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) terms, as well as the competition and procedural challenges that arise from the enforcement of these rights. Special attention is given to the case law of the Brazilian Judiciary and the decisions of CADE (the Brazilian antitrust authority) on the subject, focusing on conducts like patent hold-up and royalty stacking, and the controversy over the granting of injunctive relief. The study concludes that the proper management of essential patents is fundamental to balancing incentives for innovation with the promotion of free competition, a constant challenge for the justice system and the antitrust authority in Brazil.
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