Looking to speed time to market for “Internet of Things” products, Ericsson announced a new virtual marketplace for patent licensing across potential IoT verticals ranging from industrial applications to connected cars.
The company said the goal of the new marketplace, which will be operated by an independent party, is to simplify access to standardized technology while expanding Ericsson’s go-to market strategy around intellectual property rights and patent licensure.
Kasim Alfalahi will leave his role as chief intellectual property officer and head of IPR and licensing at Ericsson to lead the new marketplace.
In an interview with RCR Wireless News, Alfalahi said the goal is to create a “one-stop licensing platform” for IoT.
“We have been discussing for some time with both companies who are in this space and in the different verticals,” Alfalahi said. “We have also had discussions with companies who have invested lots into research and development. … They are also seeing this is something which could be good for them.”
Alfalahi explained how the new licensure platform will help drive return on research and development investments.
“We invest about $5 billion a year in research and development. The research we have, it’s very broad, which is very important to keep Ericsson at the forefront of the technology,” Alfalahi said. “In this platform, what happens is Ericsson will license its patents to the platform. The platform will license it to all the companies through the platform. Ericsson will receive a share of the revenue and that will be used to continue investments into R&D.”
“Under Kasim’s leadership, Ericsson has established a leading position in the IPR licensing market,” said Ericsson President and CEO Hans Vestberg. “As more and more industries embrace connectivity and the ‘Internet of Things,’ it is crucial that essential technology is accessible and that innovators continue to get fair returns on R&D investments. With his experience, Kasim is the right person to drive this exciting new opportunity to accelerate market development.”
