The IoT could boost innovation tremendously as well as encourage entrepreneurship across industries. But the success of the IoT hinges on licensing of connectivity SEPs. The rapid pace of digitalisation dictates that SEP licensing, too, must be as simple as possible. Inspired by his earlier work on standards, SEPs, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Prof. Joachim Henkel researches the licensing of SEPs for IoT technologies.

While much of the existing literature on the topic is conceptual, often taking a legal perspective, he combines empirical evidence, based on interviews, with economic reasoning. His concludes that device-level licensing of IoT SEPs puts a high burden on device makers, invites opportunistic behaviour by SEP holders, and impedes innovation and entrepreneurship in the IoT. He suggests solutions, and calls on policy makers to ensure that device makers can procure fully licensed IoT communication modules.

Prof. Henkel will be interviewed by Evelina Kurgonaite, Secretary General of the FSA