SEOUL, 19th June 2025 -- South Korean R&D lab Wilus has launched an action against ASUS at the Mannheim Local Division of the Unified Patent Court. The suit alleges infringement of EP 3 849 157, which reads on Wi-Fi 6 technology.
Wilus previously filed a German patent infringement case against ASUS at the Munich Regional Court on 16th April.
The actions come after a three-year period in which Wilus has tried multiple times to progress discussions with ASUS about taking a license to its portfolio of Wi-Fi 6 standard essential patents (SEPs), but to no avail.
Wilus recently concluded an amicable Wi-Fi 6 licensing deal with Lenovo and also makes its portfolio available through the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 patent pool. The pool currently has over 30 licensees, including Acer and Netgear – both of which have signed up within the last year.
“We first contacted ASUS in 2022 about taking a license to our portfolio and have made many attempts since then to begin meaningful discussions with them,” says Wilus founder and CEO Jin Sam Kwak. “We remain committed to licensing our Wi-Fi 6 SEPs on FRAND terms. However, when negotiations reach an impasse, we must protect intellectual property into which we have invested significant time and resources through the appropriate legal channels.”
About Wilus Inc.
Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc. is a South Korea-based R&D company dedicated to developing next generation standards in the fields of wireless communications and multimedia technology. Since its founding in 2012, Wilus has consistently contributed cutting-edge innovations that enhance wireless connectivity and enable immersive multimedia experiences. Driven by the belief that the best way to predict the future is to invent it, Wilus actively participates in the development of key global standards, including 3GPP, IEEE 802.11, and MPEG.
SEOUL, APRIL 10, 2025 -- We are delighted to announce that Lenovo has taken a license to Wi-Fi standard essential patents (SEPs) held by Wilus. This agreement was reached on an amicable basis and represents a significant validation of the Wilus Wi-Fi portfolio from a global technology powerhouse.
Wilus has made over 700 technical contributions to standards bodies, including foundational innovations related to Wi-Fi technology. The company makes its Wi-Fi 6 related SEPs available to license on FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) terms on a bilateral basis and through the Sisvel Wi-Fi 6 patent pool.
“This deal is a testament to the hard work and inventiveness of our engineers over the past 13 years,” says Dr. Jin Sam Kwak, founder and CEO of Wilus. “We appreciate the constructive and business-focused approach Lenovo took throughout the negotiation process. With growing momentum behind our licensing efforts, we remain committed to ensuring that all Wi-Fi implementers can access our innovations on FRAND terms.”
About Wilus Inc.
Wilus Inc. is a South Korea-based R&D company dedicated to developing next generation standards in the fields of wireless communications and multimedia technology. Since its founding in 2012, Wilus has consistently contributed cutting-edge innovations that enhance wireless connectivity and enable immersive multimedia experiences. Driven by the belief that the best way to predict the future is to invent it, Wilus actively participates in the development of key global standards, including 3GPP, IEEE 802.11, and MPEG.
On February 20, Wilus CEO Dr. Jin Sam Kwak spoke at the IPBC Korea conference in Seoul, appearing on a panel focused on patent pools titled “Beyond bilateral licensing”.
Dr. Kwak discussed the role that patent pool participation has played in making Wilus a success story for Korean innovation. Through membership in several market-leading pools, Wilus has obtained independent validation of its patents’ essentiality to global standards and made its innovations available to hundreds of licensees around the world. The resulting revenue, along with royalties from various bilateral licensing activities, supports the ongoing participation of Wilus experts in standards development.
IPBC is an international conference series focused on IP value creation. The event was hosted with support from the Korea Intellectual Property Association (KINPA).
Further information can be found at the link below.
On February 18, Wilus CEO Dr. Jin Sam Kwak participated as a speaker in a webinar hosted by the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), sharing insights on creating and managing standard essential patent portfolios.
Dr. Kwak provided Wilus’ perspective as a leading independent R&D lab that has generated more than 3,500 patents across nine SEP portfolios as a result of innovative contributions to wireless and multimedia technologies.
The webinar, “Best Practices for SEP Holders”, was part of LESI’s Thought Leadership Program, a learning series for licensing professionals. LESI is an industry association focused on the business aspects of IP, with thousands of members globally.
Further information can be found at the link below.
We are delighted to share that Wilus has been recognized as one of the Asia IP Elite 2024 by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM), an international intellectual property related information media published by Law Business Research Limited (London, UK).
The Asia IP Elite honors organizations across Asia that excel in IP strategy, innovation, and value creation. Among 93 companies, including 11 from South Korea, Wilus is proud to be named a new entrant to the Asia IP Elite for 2024.
At Wilus, our commitment to fostering innovation and upholding intellectual property rights drives our mission. We remain dedicated to developing standards and continuing the innovation to contribute to a brighter future.
Stay tuned for more update!
- Related link 1: The IAM Asia Elite of 2024
- Related link 2: IPBC Asia
