EU lawmakers back draft rules on patents key to telecoms equipment, connected cars

FILE PHOTO: European flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU lawmakers on Wednesday approved draft rules governing patents key to technologies for telecoms equipment and connected cars.

The draft rules proposed by the European Commission in April last year seek to end costly and lengthy litigation over patents used in technologies for telecoms equipment, mobile phones, computers, connected cars and smart devices.

The European Parliament will now have to thrash out the details of the proposed rule with EU countries before it can become law.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)