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FinanceTesla wins UK Supreme Court bid to revive 5G patent licensing lawsuit
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Tesla has won a bid at the UK Supreme Court to revive a London lawsuit against US technology firm InterDigital and patent licensing platform Avanci. The automaker sought a court determination of fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for a licence to use patents owned by InterDigital and licensed by Avanci, ahead of launching 5G vehicles in Britain. The High Court had thrown out Tesla's FRAND bid in 2024, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision. However, the Supreme Court ruled in Tesla's favour, stating that patent owners are not released from FRAND obligations simply by joining a patent pool or platform. The case will now return to the High Court. Avanci expressed disagreement with the ruling, while Tesla and InterDigital did not immediately comment.
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Reuters | Mon, July 27, 2026 at 4:39 AM PDT | 1 min read
- TSLA: -0.58%
- IDCC: +0.36%
LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) – Elon Musk's Tesla on Monday won its bid to revive a London lawsuit against U.S. technology firm InterDigital and a patent licensing platform, seeking a patent licence ahead of the automaker's launch of 5G vehicles in Britain.
Tesla sued InterDigital and Avanci – which licenses patents from multiple owners, largely for automotive uses – at London's High Court in 2023. The company sought a court ruling on the fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms of a licence for Tesla to use patents owned by patent holders, including InterDigital, and which are licensed by Avanci.
InterDigital and Avanci asked the court to throw out Tesla's bid for a ruling on FRAND terms. The High Court ruled in their favour in 2024, though Tesla's claim to revoke three of InterDigital's patents could continue.
Tesla unsuccessfully appealed that ruling at the Court of Appeal before challenging it at the United Kingdom's Supreme Court, supported by interveners including tech lobbying group CCIA and the Motion Picture Association.
The Supreme Court ruled in Tesla's favour, stating that owners of patents are not released from obligations to licence them on FRAND terms simply by joining a patent pool or platform. The case is now expected to return to the High Court.
Laurie Fitzgerald, president of Avanci Vehicle, said in a statement: "We respectfully disagree with today's decision and continue to believe Tesla's claims are without merit."
Tesla and InterDigital did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young
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Tesla wins UK Supreme Court bid to revive 5G patent licensing lawsuit