Author(s)

Weibo Yuan ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Law, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China

Corresponding Author

Weibo Yuan

ABSTRACT

Standard essential patents (SEPs) are deeply embedded in industries such as telecommunications. Determining fair, reasonable, and non‑discriminatory (FRAND) rates has become a key issue in balancing patent protection. This paper examines the judicial governance of FRAND rate determination in SEP disputes, focusing on the underlying interest structure, adjudicative methods, jurisdictional boundaries of global licensing, and the application of anti‑suit injunctions. The study argues that FRAND rate determination should balance the private right nature of patents with the public nature of technical standards while preventing both patent hold‑up and reverse hold‑up. Regarding adjudicative methods, courts should give due consideration to the combined application of the comparable agreement method and the top‑down method, particularly by examining the conditions for applying the comparable agreement method from the perspectives of the parties, scope of license, and patent portfolio. In the context of global licensing, although global rate determination can improve efficiency and reduce repetitive litigation, it should be constrained by factors such as substantial connection, the parties’ negotiation history, and the principle of patent territoriality. This paper aims to provide ideas for Chinese courts to improve their rules on FRAND rate adjudication and to participate prudently in international SEP governance.

KEYWORDS

Standard essential patents; FRAND rate; Comparable agreement method; Judicial governance

CITE THIS PAPER

Weibo Yuan. Judicial governance of FRAND rate determination in standard essential patent disputes——Centering on the coordination of referee methods and procedures. Science of Law Journal (2026). Vol. 5, No. 2, 90-96. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/DOI: 10.23977/law.2026.050213.

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