WASHINGTON-Following similar moves by the European Commission (EC), the U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday cleared the way for the formation of five patent platforms for third-generation (3G) wireless technology after settling competitive issues.
The department outlined its position in a business review letter from the Justice antitrust chief to counsel for the 3G Patent Platform Partnership, which includes 19 European and Asian companies. Justice rejected the group’s original proposal for a single 3G patent platform because of competitive concerns, forcing the plan to be dramatically altered.
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“The creation of patent platforms for third-generation wireless telecommunications technologies can achieve substantive efficiencies in identifying essential patents, reduce problems that can occur in negotiations with individual licensors, and aid in the rapid introduction of 3G wireless services,” said the department.
The Justice Department said the EC issued a “comfort letter” under European competition law approving the creation of the 3G platforms with their limited common functions.