2026-01-27
German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) - FRAND-Einwand III
In its recent decision FRAND-Einwand III (German Federal Court of Justice, judgment of 27 January 2026 – KZR 10/25), the Federal Court of Justice confirms its existing line of case law and at the same time further clarifies the requirements for a patent user’s willingness to take a license in SEP cases.
The message is clear: willingness to take a license must persist throughout the entire negotiation process and be reflected in actual conduct, not merely in declaratory statements. Delays or passive behaviour increasingly carry legal risks.
At the same time, practical questions remain unresolved, in particular regarding the determination of the appropriate amount of security.
Seit der Entscheidung des Gerichtshofes der Europäischen Union vom 16. Juli 2015 in der Rechtssache Huawei/ZTE (EuGH, Urteil vom 16. Juli 2015 - C-170/13, GRUR 2015, 764 - (...)