Global Standards Leadership Conference
June 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PT
University of San Diego School of Law
Discuss the Future of SEPs and Standards
About Standards Leadership Conference
For the fifth year in a row, the Global Standards Leadership Conference brings together top thought leaders to tackle the biggest issues in Standard Essential Patents, FRAND licensing, high-stakes litigation, standards development, and policy. After successful events at Northwestern University (Chicago, 2022), UC San Diego (2023), UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business (2024), and the University of Boston (2025), we’re thrilled to announce that the 2026 conference will be held in San Diego.
This year, C-level executives and industry experts will explore the future of SEP licensing, FRAND determination, litigation trends, and cross-jurisdiction policy debates. Attendees will gain unique insights into how AI and next-generation standards in cellular, wireless, video, audio, and memory technologies are shaping the next wave of innovation.
Agenda
The success of standards like 4G, 5G, soon 6G, Wi‑Fi, and video or audio codecs is reshaping legal and business frameworks—but the road ahead is complex. Geopolitical tensions, global disputes, and local regulations create significant challenges and uncertainty for both SEP owners and implementers.
The Global Standards Leadership Conference (GSLC) brings together leaders from intellectual property, standardization, government, and academia. Founded and organized by Tim Pohlmann (Managing Director Americas, LexisNexis IP), Justus Baron (BRELA and FRANDLY), and Kirti Gupta (Cornerstone Research), GSLC bridges the worlds of licensing, litigation, policy, academia, and industry. The conference fosters robust discussions, debates, and connections among professionals, all working to promote common standards that drive innovation worldwide.
08:00 AM – 09:00 AM
Registration & Networking Breakfast
09:00 AM – 09:15 AM
Welcome Remarks – Tim Pohlmann
09:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Panel Session 1: Global SEP Disputes and FRAND Frameworks
Justus Baron, Founder and CEO, CEO FRANDLY
Jon Putnam, Founder and Principal, Competition Dynamics
John Jarosz, Managing Principal, Analysis Group
Richard Pinckney, Partner, Bristows
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Coffee Break
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
Panel Session 2: Streaming Media SEP Licensing: From Device-Level Licensing to Usage-Based Licensing
Kirti Gupta VP and Chief Economist Global, Cornerstone Research
Clay Gaetje, VP Licensing and Head of Video Services/OTT, InterDigita
Shayne O’Reilly, Director and Associate General Counsel, Meta
John Pint, Senior Vice President, Access Advance
12:15 PM – 01:15 PM
Lunch Break
01:15 PM – 02:30 PM
Panel Session 3: DRAM Memory Standards: The Next SEP Battlefield in AI Infrastructure
Tim Pohlmann, Managing Director Americas, LexisNexis IP
Tom Pease, Shareholder and Partner, Greenberg Traurig
Willy Chang, VP Global Strategy, Via Licensing
02:30 PM – 03:00 PM
Coffee Break
03:00 PM – 04:00 PM
Panel Session 4: Emerging 4G/5G Cellular Verticals on the Road to 6G
Micky Minhas, SVP Corporate Development and Technology, Avanci
Shahrokh Nayeb Nazar, VP of Technology, Qualcomm Technology
04:00 PM – 05:00 PM
Cocktail Reception
Panel Session 1: Global SEP Disputes and FRAND Frameworks
The panel will explore the rapidly evolving landscape of SEP disputes worldwide, focusing on how different courts approach FRAND determination, global royalty setting, and preliminary injunctions. Panelists will examine recent cases across multiple jurisdictions, highlighting the variations in legal reasoning and enforcement approaches. Discussions will cover how courts balance the interests of SEP holders and implementers, and how regional interpretations influence the setting of global royalty rates.
The conversation will also address the impact of geopolitical tensions, which can shape local court decisions and create challenges in enforcing globally consistent licensing agreements. By analyzing case studies and emerging trends, the panel will provide insights into how multinational companies navigate complex SEP litigation and licensing strategies. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the international SEP ecosystem, the interplay between law and technology, and the strategic considerations necessary for managing global SEP portfolios.
Panel Session 2: Streaming Media SEP Licensing: From Device-Level Licensing to Usage-Based Licensing
This panel will explore the evolving landscape of SEP licensing in the streaming media context, highlighting the shift from traditional device-based royalty models to usage-based licensing approaches. As streaming consumption grows and codecs become more sophisticated, licensing based on monthly active users or monthly subscriptions is increasingly shaping the way royalties are calculated and collected. Panelists will discuss how this shift reflects a broader trend toward valuing actual content consumption over hardware, driven by the adoption of new video and audio codecs. The conversation will also explore how business models in streaming and social media platforms are transforming SEP monetization and the implications for both patent holders and service providers.
The discussion will feature leading SEP licensing executives from SEP-owning companies, patent pools, and streaming service providers, offering insights into the future of video and audio codec licensing, the challenges of implementing usage-based models, and the opportunities for a change in royalty distribution. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how the next generation of royalty frameworks is being shaped by consumption patterns, technology adoption, and evolving business models in the digital media landscape.
Panel Session 3: DRAM Memory Standards: The Next SEP Battlefield in AI Infrastructure
DRAM memory standards are becoming increasingly critical. Memory standards governed by organizations like JEDEC, and often covered by thousands of standard-essential patents (SEPs), form the backbone of modern computing devices, handsets, server infrastructure, and next-generation AI workloads. This panel will explore how the rapid scaling of AI technologies is driving exponential growth in compute demand, and how this may lead to new DRAM SEP challenges in these high-stakes markets. Participants will discuss how SEP licensing for DRAM compares to established models in cellular and wireless, as well as how market dynamics are evolving.
The discussion will also cover recent high-stakes DRAM SEP litigation and emerging licensing models. In particular, initiatives such as the announcement of the Via LA DRAM patent pool may reshape the structure and dynamics of the DRAM licensing landscape.
Panel Session 4: Emerging 4G/5G Cellular Verticals on the Road to 6G
This panel will explore the evolving landscape of cellular technology, starting with the current state of 4G and 5G and the growing importance of new industry verticals such as IoT, robotics, connected infrastructure, and tracking solutions. As connectivity expands beyond traditional smartphone use cases, these verticals are becoming key drivers of growth and innovation. Looking ahead, the discussion will turn to 6G and its potential to reshape the ecosystem. Will the leaders of the 5G era maintain their position, or will new players emerge as technologies such as AI-native networks, integrated sensing, edge computing, and advanced connectivity platforms gain traction?
The panel will also examine how use cases may evolve from smartphones to smart glasses, immersive devices, industrial automation, and pervasive machine-to-machine communication. What will define the next wave of value creation in connectivity? Bringing together perspectives from both standards development and real-world applications, the discussion will explore where future demand will come from, how standards bodies may adapt, and which verticals are likely to shape the path toward 6G.
Speakers
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
Tim Pohlmann
Managing Director Americas, LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions
Location
University of San Diego School of Law, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110, United States.
15-minute drive from the InterContinental San Diego.
Parking Instructions
General Visitors Parking at the University of San Diego
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