IEC, ISO and ITU adopt common policy on patents

In the commercial world, especially in information and communication technologies, there is often significant investment in R&D activity. A solid patent policy provides crucial investment protection while also opening up intellectual property resources for broad implementation across the industry.

For companies, this means there is now a common policy in all three top standards organisations and that they do not have to apply different rules in each, as many big companies are active in fields covered by more than one standards organisation.

World Standards Cooperation partners

Commenting on the approach, Aharon Amit, IEC General Secretary, says: "International standards developed by ISO, ITU and IEC provide a practical solution to many of the challenges faced by business in today's increasingly global markets. Industry has been seeking a common approach to patents from the world's leading standards developers. I am pleased that the increased collaboration between the World Standards Cooperation partners has led to the development of this policy that will ultimately benefit end-users and industry."

The policy adopted by the three organisations strongly encourages the disclosure of patented technology that is necessary for the implementation of a standard before the standardisation process has been completed.

It allows for companies' innovative technologies to be included in standards as long as such intellectual property is made available under reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions.

In addition, the IEC, ISO and ITU have jointly adopted Guidelines for the Implementation of the Common Patent Policy and a Patent Statement and License Declaration Form.

Each of the three WSC organisations also has an online patent database to facilitate the work of the standards developers and to assist companies wishing to implement international standards/recommendations that include patented technologies.