Innovation Asset Blog

Ericsson putting patent strategy front and center

Ericsson, a provider of technology and services to the global telecommunications industry, is placing an emphasis on its intellectual property strategy in the new year to align with the company's long-term vision.

Ericsson's 27,000 granted patents cover a wide variety of technologies and disciplines, but company officials are keen to leverage the portion of the portfolio related to wireless network access. Citing the world's 6 billion mobile phone subscribers and nearly 1 billion mobile broadband subscriptions, Ericsson chief intellectual property officer Kasim Alfalahi has suggested that a well-executed licensing strategy could generate significant revenue while driving market innovation.

"Ericsson complies with, and endorses, terms that are fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory for its patent licensing programs, which make standard-essential patents widely available," Alfalahi noted. "This makes Ericsson the partner of choice for new entrants to the market, as well as established companies seeking to license technology at fair and commercially viable rates."

This move follows Ericsson president Hans Vestberg's recent explanation of his vision for a more connected world. According to PCWorld, Vestberg used his platform at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to discuss how his company would facilitate the creation of a "networked society," promising mobile coverage to more than 90 percent of the world's population by 2015.

Peter Ackerman

Peter Ackerman

Founder & CEO, Innovation Asset Group, Inc.