Feasibility of an IPO-led FRAND Opinion Service

In October 2026, the government published its response to the Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) consultation. In addition, the government announced in the response that it would engage with stakeholders on an IPO-led FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) Opinion Service. This will explore the feasibility and potential design of such a service.

This call for evidence seeks views and evidence on how a service could help businesses during licensing negotiations to independently assess whether a proposed SEP licence offer falls within a plausible FRAND range. The government is particularly interested in whether a service could help reduce licensing frictions and improve access to dispute resolution. This is especially relevant for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and less experienced participants in the SEP ecosystem.

The government encourages anyone with an interest in a service to respond and share views and evidence on whether, and how, a service could be taken forward.