Patent Assertion Entity (PAE) risk is real for European companies — and the numbers show it.

European companies face patent litigation from Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs), often referred to in Europe as Non-Practising Entities (NPEs), in both US courts and Europe’s Unified Patent Court (UPC). Find out where your company may be exposed with a free bespoke risk report.

450+

European companies sued by a PAE in the US in the last 5 years.

$1-4M

Average cost to
defend each US PAE
litigation case.

35%

of high-tech cases
filed in the UPC by
PAEs.

>60%+

of Networking
& IoT cases
involve PAEs in the UPC.

150+

PAE cases filed in the UPC, and growing each year.

Trusted by the LOT member companies leading the way in Europe

“Patents are sacrosanct at Bayer. LOT allows us to protect our innovations and address PAE risks from the convergence of technology, while preserving the value of our patent portfolio and protecting our customers.”

- Dr. Jörg Thomaier
Chief IP Counsel GmbH Bayer “The structure of the LOT Network helps protect innovative patent owners from unwarranted litigation, without stifling valid, beneficial uses of patents, such as cross-licensing, as long as a company owns their patent, they retain all their rights to it.”

- Anthony DiBartolomeo
SVP, Chief IP Officer, Bayer "After careful review of the available means to fight unwarranted patent lawsuits from PAEs, the LOT Network appeared as an easy choice to safeguard our innovation and unleash the power of collective protection against PAEs. Being a part of the LOT community is a strategic move for companies like ours to mitigate the risk and costs associated with infringement claims from PAEs."

- Susan Storor
Head of IP Legal, Electrolux "As a global Company that is laser-focused on building an innovative and proven portfolio of software, services, and other intelligent technologies, it’s paramount that we take proactive measures to protect ourselves and our more than 2,700 patent assets from the threat of patent litigation brought on by PAEs. Joining LOT allows us to focus on what matters most – creating a greener tomorrow through our suite of innovative products and technologies."

- James Eilertsen
Head of Group Intellectual Property, Landis+Gyr "The LOT Network is a defensive IP framework: Members agree that if a patent is transferred to a non-practicing entity (a “patent troll”), all other members automatically receive a license to that patent. Goal: reduce litigation risk without limiting normal patent monetization. Effect: frees up resources and lowers fear of opportunistic lawsuits."

- Tim Alexander Oelmann
Head of Business IPR Management, Deutsche Telekom "LOT Network offers an opportunity for community members to dispose of patent assets in a responsible manner to the extent it ensures that transferred patents are licensed to other LOT Members if the patents are subsequently transferred to patent assertion entities. At the end of the day, if you work for a company that is not interested in monetizing your patent portfolio via patent assertion entities, joining LOT Network helps to mitigate PAE risk at a minimal cost."

- Mark Gorman
Associate General Counsel, Smith & Nephew "Spurious claims from Patent Assertion Entities divert resources and investment away from true innovation and collaboration. We also recognise that a modern approach to technology development and innovation requires a level playing field around use of open-source software. With membership of LOT, we are pleased to contribute to and extend the growing global community working together to reduce the PAE threat and lower barriers to use of open-source technologies."

- Lee Braine
Managing Director, Chief Technology Officer, Barclays Plc
 "The structure of the LOT Network helps protect innovative patent owners from unwarranted litigation, without stifling valid, beneficial uses of patents, such as cross-licensing, as long as a company owns their patent, they retain all their rights to it."

- Anthony DiBartolomeo
Senior Vice President & Chief IP Counsel, SAP

Our European LOT members protect each other

Members agree that if, AND ONLY IF, a patent falls into the hands of a PAE/NPE, every member of the community is protected against those assets, with no effect on the traditional uses of their patents.

Here’s what that protection covers for LOT members in the EU today:

Top Technologies

% of LOT-protected assets in each technology area

Top Countries

% of LOT-protected assets with coverage in each jurisdiction

That protection extends globally too: join 6,300+ industry leaders who have immunized themselves against PAEs together, covering more than 6M active assets worldwide. Additional community benefits include 25%+ reduction in U.S. PAE litigation risk, a network to share insights with, a patent marketplace built for members, and more.

Find us at an event near you

Happening soon
September 23, 2026: LOT Network Oktoberfest IP & Legal Networking Event

Coming in 2027
Oktoberfest LOT members IP event in Munich, plus regional IP event dinners in Rome, Paris, London and Dusseldorf.