The Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have withdrawn a 2019 Standards-Essential Patents (SEP) policy statement after concluding this would best serve the interests of innovation and competition.
The decision came after the organizations considered public comment on the 2019 Policy Statement on Remedies for Standards-Essential Patents Subject to Voluntary F/RAND Commitments, the USPTO announced June 8.
“Forging our global leadership in new industries cannot happen without greater investment in research and development in technologies that may become international standards,” Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director said in the announcement.
Large multinational companies, small- and medium-sized businesses and startups need to engage more in global standards-setting organizations, she said. She backed any measure to enable innovation that fosters sustainable, long-term growth in the economy.
“A common thread in so many of the thoughtful stakeholder comments we received is a commitment to America’s industry-led, voluntary, consensus-based approach to standards development,” Laurie E. Locascio, under secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director, said in the report. “This approach consistently delivers the best technical solutions, and I wholeheartedly support it.”
Withdrawing the statement strengthens the ability of U.S. companies to engage and influence international standards, Locascio said, according to the report. Technology leadership in the United States depends on these standards that will enable the global technology markets of today and tomorrow.
