The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has today launched a call for evidence seeking views on whether its proposed IPO-led FRAND Opinion Service could help parties in SEP licensing negotiations.
The proposed service would give parties access to a voluntary, independent, early assessment of whether a licensing offer falls within a plausible FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) range, to support negotiations, and without determining essentiality, validity, infringement, or liability.
This follows the government’s response to the SEPs consultation, published on October 13. No decision has been taken on whether to introduce this service. This call for evidence will help the UKIPO decide whether there is a clear case for proceeding, and if so, how it should work in practice, including access, fees, evidence requirements, and confidentiality safeguards.
We are particularly keen to hear from those with direct experience of SEP licensing negotiations, including business, legal and licensing professionals, economists or valuation experts, as well as from anyone else with evidence to contribute, or likely to use the service, including SMEs.
The call for evidence is open from October 20 to December 15, 2026. You can read the full document and respond via Citizen Space here: Feasibility of an IPO-led FRAND Opinion Service – GOV.UK
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