LoginSubscribe Now
International In-house Counsel Journal Logo
International In-house Counsel Journal Logo
  • Home
  • Business Sectors
  • Areas of Law
  • Editorial Board
  • Write a Paper
  • Subscribe
  • Books
  • Reports
  • Back Issues
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • PLS LogoCopyright & permissions
© 2026 International In-house Counsel Journal Ltd. | ISSN 1754-0607 | Picture Credits: Freepix, Unsplash and by permission of the authors
Back to library search

The Lords of the Ringtones: will one king rule the technology standards of the future?

July 2021TechnologyTelecommunications

Abstract

In early 2006, I was pulled into a battle, which became but one in a whole series of battles that have since become referred to as the “Smartphone Wars” – which sounds a lot like Star Wars, although the Lord of the Rings would make for a better analogy, where various different interests vie for power or mere survival. In 2006 I was a newly qualified lawyer, at the law firm Bird & Bird, with a background in Chemistry. It was an exciting time, wondering where my career might lead. In my mind, it was going to be delving into the world of litigating pharmaceutical and chemical patents in private practice. Little did I know that some court pleadings, which landed on my desk one day that year, were going to take me on a most unexpected journey.

Subscribe to reador
PLS Logo Copyright & permissions

Author

Adrian Howes

Head of IP and Standards, IP Policy and Advocacy, Nokia Corporation, UK

Related Papers

The Legal Tech-Train is rolling - better get on board!
When discussing the future of the legal services profession today, it is practically impossible not to talk about “Legal-Tech”. Entire conferences, so-called “Hackathons”, are dedicated to it , Legal-Tech start-ups...Read more
Portrait image of Dirk Naumann
Dirk Naumann
Executive Vice President of Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance, and Chief Legal Officer, Orange Business, International
The New Era of Acquisition Finance in India: Opportunities and Legal Challenges Under RBI’s Revised Framework
In February 2026, the Reserve Bank of India issued the RBI (Commercial Banks – Credit Facilities) Amendment Directions, 2026, formally notifying a landmark regulatory shift that permits scheduled commercial banks...Read more
Portrait image of Prateek Sethi
Prateek Sethi
Associate Vice President - Legal, Bharti Airtel Limited, India
De-risk as You Democratize: Accelerating Innovation and Ensuring AI Act Readiness in 2025
In the few short years since I wrote an article for the International In-House Counsel Journal advocating for the stronger integration of technology into the strategic planning of in-house legal...Read more
Portrait image of Dirk Naumann
Dirk Naumann
Executive Vice President of Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance, and Chief Legal Officer, Orange Business, International
Forging new roles and processes in Ethics and Compliance
Ethics and Compliance tasks at companies are often channelled through a compliance officer and a centralized compliance team. However, more and more activities are arising that fall in the Ethics...Read more
Portrait image of Marie-laure Pedamon
Marie-laure Pedamon
Compliance Director - EMEA Due Diligence and Hospitality Corporate Legal and Compliance Organization, Nokia Corporation, France