InterDigital scores third SEP win in Lenovo fight

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

InterDigital scores third SEP win in Lenovo fight

Entrance to the Royal Court of Justice

Court of Appeal judges overturned the High Court’s Mr Justice James Mellor, who was 'beguiled by a sleight of hand'

The England and Wales Court of Appeal reinstated an InterDigital-owned patent on appeal in a blow to Lenovo, today, February 9.

The judgment overturned an earlier ruling by the High Court’s Mr Justice James Mellor, who found the InterDigital 3G patent invalid as obvious in January 2022.

According to Lord Justice Richard Arnold’s lead opinion, Mellor was “beguiled by a sleight of hand” in one of Lenovo’s arguments and accepted an incorrect claim interpretation.

The appeal concerned a document cited by Lenovo during its cross-examination of InterDigital’s expert witness.

An answer from the witness to a particular question from Lenovo led Mellor to find that InterDigital’s claims lacked novelty.

But Lenovo’s question evaded the key issue that Mellor should have focused on instead, InterDigital successfully argued on appeal.

It was a minor issue that received little attention during the High Court trial, Arnold said.

Mellor’s mistake was understandable given the number of issues he had to deal with, Arnold added.

Today’s judgment is the latest in a series of wins for InterDigital in the dispute, and the second at the Court of Appeal in the last month.

“This latest UK court victory, our third in a matter of weeks, serves as further confirmation of the quality of our patented innovations,” said Josh Schmidt, chief legal officer at InterDigital.

Mellor’s judgment in the FRAND trial, which concluded last February, is currently pending and is one of the year's most keenly anticipated UK patent judgments.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Stobbs stands accused of interfering with the administration of justice after Brandsmiths’ client was subjected to an interim injunction for unjustified threats
The firm, known for its prosecution expertise, discusses its plans following the appointment of a UK-based patent litigation head and two new partners
Ed White at Clarivate provides an exclusive insight into the innovation power clusters reshaping Europe and the Middle East’s IP landscape, and why quality is the new currency of invention
In the first in a new podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we look back at the network’s origins and discuss its mission
Rebecca Schwarz at Haynes Boone shares how her team secured victory for biopharma client RedHill in a licensing dispute involving a developmental cancer drug
News of a breakaway firm launching in Germany and a spike in vaccine-related patent applications were also among the top talking points
A flurry of hiring activity among UK firms suggests they are confident of mounting a serious challenge at the UPC
With the submission deadline approaching, we sat down with our research team to provide top tips on how to make your firm stand out
EA, owner of video games including Madden and The Sims, will be sold to a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and a firm owned by Donald Trump’s son-in-law
New arrival marks Mewburn Ellis' second partner hire in ten days as firm looks to boost patent litigation and prosecution capabilities
Gift this article