New EU Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation: Key Changes And Practical Implications

On 16 April 2026, the European Commission adopted a revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (the "Revised TTBER") and Guidelines on the application of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to technology transfer agreements (the "Revised Guidelines"). The Revised TTBER and Revised Guidelines enter into force on 1 May 2026, replacing Commission Regulation (EU) No 316/2014 (the "Previous TTBER"). While the fundamental architecture of the block exemption framework remains intact, the Revised TTBER and Revised Guidelines introduce a number of targeted modifications intended to reflect developments in licensing practice, in particular the increasing importance of data, digital technologies and collaborative innovation models.