In autumn 2020, we analysed more than 8000 opposition cases filed at the European Patent Office (EPO) over the last 12 years, studying the timelines for hundreds of engineering, electronics and software oppositions.
The research enabled us to see how oppositions have been affected by procedural changes at the European Patent Office and by the Covid-19 pandemic. With a focus on Transport, Medical Devices, Telecommunications and Software, the report also looks at how opposition outcomes vary across the four different technology sectors and which players are the most active.
Tier 1 suppliers are driving opposition activity in automotive. In our report on oppositions activity in the transport space, our data show a difference between the automotive sector and other transport sectors in terms of the nature of the companies most active in EPO Oppositions. In particular, we see notably higher opposition activities of Tier 1 suppliers than OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in the automotive sector, both in terms of companies opposed and the most active opponents. However, these tables suggest this trend is not reflected in the aeronautical, rail, and escalator & elevator sectors, where we see the most active parties being dominant OEMs.
Our data show a difference between the automotive sector and other transport sectors in terms of the nature of the companies most active in EPO Oppositions. In particular, we see notably higher opposition activities of Tier 1 suppliers than OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in the automotive sector, both in terms of companies opposed and the most active opponents. However, these tables suggest this trend is not reflected in the aeronautical, rail, and escalator & elevator sectors, where we see the most active parties being dominant OEMs.
In contrast, the relatively high degree of vertical integration in the aeronautical, rail and escalator & elevator sectors reduces supplier opposition activity in these sectors, leaving it mainly in the hands of the OEMs.
We expect to see this supplier prevalence of opposition activity in the automotive sector continue over the coming years, as Tier 1 suppliers compete to meet the demands of the automotive OEMs by developing ever more sophisticated onboard systems to provide increased levels of autonomy.
