In our Global IP Outlook for 2018 we flagged the following key automotive industry issues to consider for developments over the year. This post collates our related LimeGreen IP insights… and then some. Keep an eye out for our Global IP Outlook 2019 in the new year!

Connected Cars present a tremendous opportunity for automotive companies and consumers. Among other things, these technologies enable wireless connectivity in cars, both external (e.g. with an external network) and internal (e.g. with local devices). But this is not without risk. Providing cars with many of the same capabilities that, for example, handsets have may create much more risk vis-à-vis the same types of patents that have plagued handset companies. We also flagged our November 2017 interview with Partner Celine Crowson “Emerging issues in the connected cars and autonomous vehicles market are influencing standard-essential patents and IP transactions“.

Perhaps the most notable, and immediate, risk is in the wireless space. There are vast numbers of patents across the wi-fi, 2G, 3G, 4G (LTE) and 5G space. Cars with “wireless” connectivity capabilities may be susceptible to these patents. Expect monetizing entities to continue to appear, as the efforts of technology companies and automotive companies continue to overlap more and more.

• Last June we held a webinar on “Standard essential patents in the automotive industry” with speakers Zhen Feng, Joe Raffetto and Benjamin Schroeer. To review what was covered, please access the Webinar recording
• Getting The Deal Through: Automotive 2018 – The second edition of this joint Hogan Lovells-GTDT publication addresses the quickly transforming automotive industry and examines fundamental market developments in the law and regulation governing the industry worldwide – IP issues foreseen in our Global Outlook included.
• We published this interview with Partner, Andreas Renck which examines why automotive companies in the connected car and autonomous driving industry need to review their trademark portfolios
• In this podcast, Celine Crowson and Dr. Martin Fähndrich discuss the unprecedented disruptions under way in the automotive industry, and why OEMs want policymakers to let autonomous vehicle technologies influence future regulations — not the other way around: Straight Talks podcast: New players, new rules – IP disruption in the automobile industry
• In October, among other notable speakers at our Innovation Lounge networking event in our Washington, D.C., we welcomed  Anuja Sonalker CEO of Steer Tech. Steer Tech created the first fully-autonomous, parking technology to transform everyday cars into driverless vehicles that self-park in designated lots. The autonomous parking system is installed in a car by a certified provider and corresponds with a mobile app that is paired with the vehicle.

LimeGreen IP News also reported on the following issues beyond our Global Outlook publication:

• Our Internet Governance and Domain Names team receently reported Anti-counterfeiting measures in the U.S. taken to curb online sale of auto spares: U.S. – Over a million sites ICEd this year .
• A team from our Shanghai IP Agency and Hogan Lovells Fidelity reported on a remarkable trademark decision they obtained in a  trademark squatting dispute won before China’s highest court: Key trademark decision secured for ZF before China’s highest court.
• Among China’s top 10 cases of 2017 which we reported on upon release in 2018 was the trademark infringement and squatting of a well-known mark in Jaguar Land Rover Co., Ltd. v. Fenli Foods Co., Ltd., et al. before the Guangdong Higher People’s Court): Setting the right example: China’s Supreme People’s Court selects the top 10 IP cases of 2017
• Nils Rauer reported on a specific copyright remuneration issue in the automotive industry: German Court rules on Porsche design. Nils also covered developments in geoblocking in Europe, for example how, before implementation of the new regulation, car rental in one country could be more expensive depending on which country IP address the booking is made from: Geoblocking – EU Parliament approves new regulation

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