Technology Transfer and the New EU Competition Rules: Intellectual Property Licensing after Modernisation

The new Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (in force from May 1, 2004) signals a profound change in the nature of the regulatory framework for technology licensing under EU competition law. This book examines the new Regulation in detail, placing it in the wider context of: (i) the modernisation reforms of EC competition law; and (ii) the treatment of IP rights over technology more generally. The book also considers the approach to assessment of IP issues set out in the Guidelines that accompany the Regulation; the authors discuss their legal basis and, where appropriate, criticise the approach taken by the Guidelines where the legal basis is unsure.

The new Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (in force from May 1, 2004) signals a profound change in the nature of the regulatory framework for technology licensing under EU competition law. This book examines the new Regulation in detail, placing it in the wider context of: (i) the modernisation reforms of EC competition law; and (ii) the treatment of IP rights over technology more generally. The book also considers the approach to assessment of IP issues set out in the Guidelines that accompany the Regulation; the authors discuss their legal basis and, where appropriate, criticise the approach taken by the Guidelines where the legal basis is unsure.

Steven D. Anderman is Professor of Law at Essex University. His work as Expert on Competition Policy to the Economic and Social Committee of the EU since 1984 has included succeeding Patent and Know-how Block Exemption Regulations, including the current Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulations, the Merger Control Regulation, and the Vertical, Horizontal and Modernisation Regulations. He has also taken part in various advisory groups preparing the UK Competition Act 1998, and made presentations to the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee of the UK Patent Office on issues of competition law and the exercise of IPRs and on IP research programmes. John Kallaugher is Partner in the Global Antitrust and Competition Practice at Latham and Watkins. He has a broad practice touching all areas of competition law. He has represented clients from many industrial sectors in competition cases before the Commission, national competition authorites, Community Courts, national courts and arbitral tribunals. He is also Visiting Professor at University College London, where he teaches comparative US, EC, antitrust and competition law.