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ARTICLE · 28 MAY 2021

An Introduction To SEPs

J A Kemp
J A Kemp
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J A Kemp

J A Kemp

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A Standard-Essential Patent, or SEP, is a patent that protects an invention that must be used if a product is to comply with a technical standard.

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Gregory Aroutiunian
Gregory Aroutiunian
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A Standard-Essential Patent, or SEP, is a patent that protects an invention that must be used if a product is to comply with a technical standard. 

Technical standards are used across many sectors and technologies to ensure that products from different manufacturers are compatible and interoperable, both for physical products and software. For example, technical standards underpin the field of information and communication technologies, ranging from the dimensions of USB connectors and CDs, to the specific communication protocols used in WiFi, Bluetooth, and 4G/5G mobile communication technologies.

Technical standards are developed by standards organisations working with partner organisations to develop and decide on the features and functionality of specific standards. For example, the standards for 5G mobile communications technology, which is currently being rolled out globally, are being developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which is a

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