Tesla Inc & Anor v InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc & Ors

Tesla Inc & Anor v InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc & Ors

There is no serious issue to be tried in relation to Tesla’s Licensing Claims regarding the Avanci 5G Platform, as there is no contractual or legal right enforceable against Avanci or collectively against the SEP owners for a platform licence on FRAND terms. The English courts’ jurisdiction to determine FRAND terms is limited to bilateral licences where a contractual foundation exists. Procedural fairness and absence of necessary parties further bar the grant of declaratory relief. The appeal is dismissed.

Parties
Claimant/appellant: Tesla, Inc.; Claimant/appellant: Tesla Motors Limited; Defendant/respondent: IDAC Holdings, Inc.; Defendant/respondent: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.; Defendant/respondent: InterDigital Holdings, Inc.; Defendant/respondent: Avanci, LLC
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
03 June 2025
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Appeal From High Court (patents Court) to Court of Appeal
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Jurisdiction, FRAND Licensing, Standard Essential Patents (seps), Declaratory Relief, Forum Non Conveniens, Representative Actions
Intellectual Property Law Contract Law Civil Procedure Jurisdiction FRAND Licensing Standard Essential Patents (seps) Declaratory Relief Forum Non Conveniens +1 more

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Parties

Tesla, Inc.

Claimant/appellant

Tesla Motors Limited

Claimant/appellant

IDAC Holdings, Inc.

Defendant/respondent

InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.

Defendant/respondent

InterDigital Holdings, Inc.

Defendant/respondent

Avanci, LLC

Defendant/respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Appeal From High Court (patents Court) to Court of Appeal

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the English courts have jurisdiction to determine FRAND terms for a global licence of SEPs at the behest of an implementer against a patent pool/platform and its members.
  2. 2 Whether declaratory relief can be granted against Avanci and InterDigital regarding FRAND terms for the Avanci 5G Platform.
  3. 3 Whether the claims fall within the relevant service gateways for out-of-jurisdiction defendants.

Ratio Decidendi

There is no serious issue to be tried in relation to Tesla’s Licensing Claims regarding the Avanci 5G Platform, as there is no contractual or legal right enforceable against Avanci or collectively against the SEP owners for a platform licence on FRAND terms. The English courts’ jurisdiction to determine FRAND terms is limited to bilateral licences where a contractual foundation exists. Procedural fairness and absence of necessary parties further bar the grant of declaratory relief. The appeal is dismissed.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed