Nokia, HP, Verizon Back FTC Against Import Bans Over Standards Patents

Jun 8, 2012

By John Ribeiro, IDG News

Tech companies including Nokia and Hewlett-Packard and industry associations have backed a submission by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, warning that exclusions based on standards-essential patents could stifle innovation and competition.

In a statement on Wednesday in the public interest before the U.S. International Trade Commission, the FTC said that ITC's issuance of an exclusion or cease and desist order in matters involving implementation of standards-essential patents, that were committed to be licensed on FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) terms, has the potential to cause substantial harm to U.S. competition, consumers, and innovation.

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