Key facts
- Tesla's lawsuit against InterDigital and Avanci has been revived by the UK Supreme Court.
- The case concerns the fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for licensing 5G patents.
- Tesla requires these patents for its vehicles launching in Britain.
- The Supreme Court ruled that patent owners cannot avoid FRAND obligations by joining a patent pool.
- The lawsuit will now return to the High Court.
Tesla has successfully revived a lawsuit in the United Kingdom concerning 5G patent licensing, following a ruling by the UK Supreme Court. The electric vehicle manufacturer sued U.S. technology firm InterDigital and patent licensing platform Avanci in London's High Court in 2023. Tesla is seeking a licence for patents essential to its vehicles' 5G capabilities for their launch in Britain, aiming to establish fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Initially, InterDigital and Avanci sought to have Tesla's bid for a FRAND ruling dismissed, and the High Court ruled in their favour in 2024. Tesla's subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal was also unsuccessful. However, the UK's Supreme Court has now overturned these decisions, ruling that patent owners are not exempt from FRAND obligations simply by participating in a patent pool or licensing platform. The case is now set to return to the High Court for further proceedings.