The patent war

SMU Deputy Dean, School of Law, and Professor of Law (Practice) Professor David Llewelyn gave insights on patent rights and their limitations. He commented that it is not unusual for patents to be applied for and granted in North America and/or Europe only – as it gets more expensive with more countries involved. Intellectual property rights (IPR) like patents are territorially limited rights. He explained that threats of IPR infringement are a normal part of doing business today. In many instances, the best course of action is to ask for a licence from the patent owner, and pay what is hopefully a small royalty per product. Or if legal action has been threatened or commenced, then a settlement should be negotiated.