EPO meets with Ericsson

On 21 November, the European Patent Office (EPO) held a meeting with Ericsson, a global leader in telecommunications. The company was represented by a delegation of participants from Europe, the US, Canada and China, led by VP Patent Development Gabriele Mohsler. The EPO delegation was led by Vice-President Steve Rowan and the open exchanges focused on a range of strategic topics.

The meeting was part of the EPO’s ongoing practice to of engaging in direct dialogue with users, as set out in its Quality Action Plan 2024. A total of 26 meetings with large applicants took place this year, alongside meetings with smaller applicants. Such meetings provide the EPO with a wealth of feedback and insights which help to identify areas for improvement.

The strategic importance of high-quality, enforceable patents

Discussions underscored Ericsson’s emphasis on high-quality, enforceable patents and the importance of securing the “right coverage at the right time.” Having noted that “the EPO is well known for a thorough search and examination” process, Ericsson highlighted its focus on building a robust 6G patent portfolio and its interest in artificial intelligence (AI).

Ericsson expressed strong appreciation for the dialogue with the EPO and emphasised the strategic importance of patents to their business. The meeting concluded with an agreement to explore arranging a follow-up operational meeting on topics of interest in 2025.

About Ericsson

Ericsson is a global leader in telecommunications and a key contributor to innovation. In 2023, the company filed 1 969 European patent applications, making it the top European applicant and the fifth largest applicant globally at the EPO, with 258 EP direct and 1 711 Euro-PCT filings. Ericsson has also been active in Unitary Patent registrations, with 181 in 2023 and 182 to date in 2024. Operating in more than 180 countries with around 100 000 employees, Ericsson invests SEK 51 billion (approximately €4.4 billion) annually in research and development, supporting 28 000 R&D professionals, and holds over 60 000 granted patents.