The Emergence of FRAND Interim Licences

This article analyes the emergence of FRAND interim licences in UK law, a judicial innovation addressing disputes over standard-essential patents ( SEPs) during protracted negotiations or litigation. Reviewing landmark cases, i.e. Panasonic v Xiaomi , Alcatel Lucent v Amazon , Lenovo v Ericsson , and Samsung v ZTE , it explains how interim licences balance the interests of SEP holders and implementers by enabling continued technology use with provisional royalties, subject to retroactive adjustment. The study highlights the mechanism’s grounding in good faith obligations, its distinction from anti-suit injunctions, analogies in other legal fields, and its potential to influence global FRAND policy and standard-setting practices.