iRunway Research Report Reveals 2G & 3G Patent Landscape, Sheds Light on Nokia Acquisition

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- iRunway, a technology consulting firm specializing in patent litigation and patent portfolio analysis, has released a comprehensive new report revealing the patent holdings of Nokia and other top players in the 2G / 3G patent landscape and detailing the quality of the patent portfolios across different technologies.

The report explores an upcoming shift in patent licensing and litigation as top wireless technology patent holders in the 2G and 3G space become much more aggressive in their efforts to generate revenue from their assets. The report sheds light on an important aspect of the recently announced Nokia acquisition and helps to identify those companies that stand to benefit as this arena evolves.

Ericsson, Nokia, Qualcomm and Alcatel-Lucent are among those who developed the building blocks of today's wireless world. While the brands may have faded somewhat in the minds of consumers, they collectively control the majority of all patents in the 2G and 3G space. In fact, Nokia, LG and Qualcomm alone own more than 43 percent of all seminal (strong) patents. Nokia individually controls a remarkable 16 percent of seminal patents and 26 percent of all standard essential patents in this space.

"The leading players in the 2G and 3G arena, including Nokia, Ericsson and Qualcomm, may have lost the battle of mind share, but they will exert outsized influence on market leaders such as Apple, Google, Samsung and HTC, who control today's mobile device and handset ecosystem," said Animesh Kumar, Chief Solutioning Officer of iRunway.

According to the report, 2G and 3G technology patents have been at the crux of ongoing patent wars and they will fuel a significant escalation in activity during the next five years as top patent holders seek to monetize their portfolios through aggressive licensing and litigation strategies. Leading patent holders have already launched initiatives against major competitors, with some having sold patent rights to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs).

"It is highly likely, given the increasing pressure on these companies to generate revenue, that many will become more aggressive by entering into new agreements with 'patent privateers' to monetize their assets," said Animesh Kumar of iRunway. "The result will be a measurable increase in litigation and licensing, and additional possible acquisitions."

The report provides details on the number and category of overall, standard essential and seminal patents. It also delves into SMEs and PAEs that control a large percentage of seminal and standard essential patents. Nearly nine percent of seminal 2G and 3G patents are currently held by SMEs and PAEs, and approximately five percent of all standard essential patents for 2G and 3G are held by two companies — Innovative Sonic Ltd and Vringo. This report also reveals that certain PAEs with key 2G and 3G patents have remarkably high patent monetization potential.

For additional information on the 2G / 3G report, please visit: http://bit.ly/1cFwEwl

About iRunway
iRunway helps corporations and law firms unlock and protect the value of patents by combining technology expertise with practical business insight to monetize patent portfolios and improve litigation outcomes. For more information about the company's consulting model and in-depth analysis, visit www.i-Runway.com

SOURCE iRunway