WASHINGTON (April 14, 2026) — Today, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) released a new report examining the market impact of licensing negotiation groups (LNGs) and the implications of recent guidance on LNGs issued by the European Commission.
The report, commissioned by C4IP, was authored independently by Professor Jonathan Barnett, the Torrey H. Webb Professor of Law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and a leading authority on intellectual property, antitrust, and innovation policy. Professor Barnett has published extensively in top academic journals, including the Harvard Law Review and the Yale Law Journal, and is the author of several influential books on intellectual property.
C4IP Executive Director Frank Cullen issued the following statement on the report:
“C4IP is grateful to Professor Barnett for lending his extensive expertise in intellectual property and innovation policy to this important issue. His thoughtful and rigorous analysis of the European Commission’s recent guidance on licensing negotiation groups highlights key risks associated with collective licensing negotiations, including the potential for distorted royalty rates, reduced incentives for innovation, and broader ripple effects across global wireless technology markets.
“By carefully weighing these risks against the claimed efficiencies of LNGs, Professor Barnett’s work provides valuable insight for policymakers and stakeholders navigating the intersection of competition law and innovation policy.”
To read the complete report, click here.
About Council for Innovation Promotion: The Council for Innovation Promotion is a bipartisan coalition dedicated to promoting strong and effective intellectual property rights that drive innovation, boost economic competitiveness, and improve lives everywhere.