标准必要专利FRAND承诺法律性质探究

A Study on the Legal Nature of FRAND Commitments for Standard Essential Patents

摘要: 标准必要专利(SEP)的出现使得专利权人与标准实施者之间产生利益失衡，标准制定组织因此引入FRAND承诺以平衡双方利益，但其法律性质在理论与实务界均未达成共识。通过梳理FRAND承诺的理论基础，检视现有学说的局限性，并结合《中华人民共和国民法典》第522条关于真正利益第三人合同的规定，可以论证将FRAND承诺定性为真正第三人利益合同具有充分的法理依据。在此基础上，提出明确法律性质、构建司法认定标准以及完善配套适用规则等建议，以期为我国SEP纠纷的有效解决提供统一的法律框架。

Abstract: The emergence of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) creates an interest imbalance between patentees and implementers. Standard-setting organizations thus introduce the FRAND commitment to balance their interests, yet its legal nature remains contested in theory and practice. By reviewing the theoretical foundations of the FRAND commitment, examining the limitations of existing doctrines, and invoking Article 522 of the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China on genuine third-party beneficiary contracts, this article argues that characterizing the FRAND commitment as a genuine third-party beneficiary contract is well-grounded in legal doctrine. Based on this, the article proposes clarifying its legal nature, establishing judicial recognition criteria, and improving supporting rules, aiming to provide a unified legal framework for the effective resolution of SEP disputes in China.