Through two special remarks, a roundtable and four curated panels, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of the legal, operational, and commercial consequences of policy developments across key domains.

Disclaimer (Personal Views): The views, opinions, and statements expressed during this event are made in a personal capacity and do not reflect the positions of, nor are they endorsed by, the EUI, ETSI, or any current or former employers of the speakers or participants.

Background

The global legal framework surrounding Standard-Essential Patent (SEP) licensing is in a state of continuous evolution, shaped by the complex interplay of divergent national standardisation strategies, market regulation, patent jurisprudence, industrial and trade policies. In Europe, although the full potential of the Unified Patent Court in the enforcement of SEPs has yet to be realised, the prospect of direct regulatory intervention remains uncertain following the European Commission’s withdrawal of its SEP Regulation proposal in early 2025. Nevertheless, a tender-based study exploring the hypothetical implementation of the withdrawn proposal is still ongoing, and the Commission has not ruled out further action in this area. In the UK, too, the government is consulting on potential regulatory measures going beyond the educational one of the SEPs Resources Hub launched in 2024. Collective SEP licensing is also under the limelight following the release of guidelines on patent pools released by Chinese authorities, ongoing revision of similar soft law instruments in the EU and the UK, and the informal endorsement of the Automotive Licensing Negotiation Group by both the Bundeskartellamt and the European Commission. At the international level, two disputes are also pending at different procedural stages between the EU and China before the WTO regarding Chinese courts’ use of anti-suit injunctions and global rate-setting in SEP cases.

The conference opens with a judicial roundtable featuring judges from prominent European patent law jurisdictions, who will reflect on recent developments in SEP case law and enforcement practices. The first panel will examine the industry impact of the European Commission’s withdrawal of the proposed SEP Regulation, followed by a discussion on how EU standardisation and industrial policies can better support SME participation in standardisation and adoption of standards. The programme will then explore how EU competition law is shaping global SEP portfolio management and licensing. A keynote speech will complement the EU perspective with a Transatlantic view on recent developments in U.S. antitrust policy on standardisation. The final panel will address ongoing patent law initiatives aimed at improving SEP transparency and reforming cross-border dispute resolution frameworks, viewed through the lens of technology sovereignty and global trade dynamics.

Practical information

Invited speakers will be mostly present at the EUI campus in Florence. Participants will also be able to attend the event in person in Florence. The registration fee to join the event in person is €150. The fee covers the cost of coffee breaks, dinner on 9th October and lunch on 10th October 2025. A shuttle bus from the EUI campus to Florence train station and airport will be organised for the registered participants after the end of the Autumn Conference. On the other hand, the registration fee does not cover travel and accommodation expenses in Florence. Participants in the 2025 Florence Competition Autumn School will be able to attend the conference free of charge.

The audience will also be able to follow the conference via Zoom, free of charge. Please note that online registration is required to receive the Zoom credentials.

The Autumn Conference will take place on October 9th (14.30 – 17.15) and 10th (9.15 – 17.30). The time indicated in the programme refers to the Central European and Eastern Time (CEST) zone.