Clifford Chance

The New EU Technology Licensing Rules

26 March 2014

The European Commission has published the new Technology Transfer Block Exemption  and the related Technology Transfer Guidelines, which will come into force on 1 May 2014.  The TTBE and Guidelines govern the application of EU competition law to transfers and licences of patents, know-how and software copyrights.  The main changes relate to restrictions on passive sales of products made with technology licensed by a non-competitor, exclusive grant-backs and no-challenge clauses.  There is also new guidance on reverse payment settlements and patent pools.

This briefing outlines the changes.

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