§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports the Radio Agency has assessed about the role of members of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's working group on Digital Information Standards activities which added value to Motorola Europe's patent applications in this field; and what implications this will have for the cost of future licence fees payable to Motorola.[68063]
§ Stephen TimmsThe Radiocommunications Agency is a UK member of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute and in common with other members of ETSI, its responsibilities would not extend to carrying out an assessment of the role of other members of the group.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the implications for the UK digital communications industry of applications made by Motorola Europe supported by Motorola USA for patents on technologies offered to and adopted by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's Digital Information Interchange Systems Standards group. [68066]
§ Stephen TimmsThe Department of Trade and Industry supports the European Telecommunications Institute's policy on Intellectual Property Rights but is not in a position to comment upon the impact of patent rights belonging to individual companies. However, the Radiocommunications Agency is aware of discussions currently taking place within ETSI on the value of essential IPR in a standard and the value of contributions given by members in the development of those standards. The Digital Information Interchange Systems project is seen as a means to promote spectrum efficiency within the Private Business Radio Industry and the Agency would wish to see it develop for the benefit of industry, manufacturers and the users of business radio.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports the Radio Agency has assessed on Motorola Europe's licence fee policy for the use of the common technologies employed in pursuit of DIIS standards. [68064]
§ Stephen TimmsIt is not the role of the Radiocommunications Agency to assess the commercial practice of companies or organisations in their operation of fees policy relating to Intellectual Property Rights held by those organisations.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the implications of recent Motorola Europe patent activity for the prospects for the participation of small-scale UK-owned telecommunications companies involved in the creation of the European Telecommunications Standards. [68062]
§ Stephen TimmsThe Department of Trade and Industry supports the European Telecommunications Institute's policy on Intellectual Property Rights that has been established for some time but is not in a position to comment upon the impact of patent rights belonging to individual companies. However, the DTI supports moves towards digital technology and would encourage all158W companies, not least small companies, to take advantage of opportunities arising from the introduction of this technology.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports the Radio Agency has assessed about the Chairman of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's work in establishing Motorola Europe's role in the authorship and application for patents for the technologies applicable to companies in the Digital Information Interchange Standards group. [68065]
§ Stephen TimmsThe Radiocommunications Agency is a UK member of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute and in common with other members of ETSI, its responsibilities would not extend to carrying out an assessment of reports relating to the work of a Chairman of an ETSI group in this respect.