Beginning of 2023 will mark the 10th anniversary of Henrik Villumsen Lawfirm – the international lighting industry IP-boutique, which we have reported on several times over this latest decade, including in May of this year.
As we have previously reported, the firm was established when Henrik Villumsen — a Danish national, left his position as general counsel with a major entertainment lighting manufacturer. While the law firm has expanded dramatically with local operatives and clients in very many parts of the world, front and center is still Henrik Villumsen.
Your humble editor sat down with Henrik Villumsen at Light 22 in London for a brief talk:
Randy: You are one of the largest firms that works globally in IP law for the lighting industry, what will the future hold for you and the law firm ?
Villumsen: I have some 30 years of experience with IP and I plan to practice for at least 20 more years. The vast, vast majority of the business still is – and undoubtedly will continue to be – assisting clients with navigating Signify’s LED patents, where I believe we have the largest “market share” worldwide. But we are also expanding our mediation and arbitration business in the lighting industry and I expect the firm and business to continue to grow at tremendous pace.
Randy: Do you own the firm and run the day-to-day operations ?
Villumsen: I do. A very high, if not unparalleled, level of specialized experience has been and will be the driver. That does not necessarily mean, that I could not share some of the fruits and control with others, and over the years I have had talks with a couple of big international law firms about integration, but for various reasons nothing has come to fruition. But very good ideas are welcome.
Randy: When you say, “Good ideas are welcome,” that sounds to me like you are interested in selling or merging your practice.
Villumsen: I am certainly open for good ideas.
Randy: How do you see Signify IP right now? Are they more aggressive, or less aggressive?
Villumsen: well, in 2022 Signify has publicly stated, as you know, that the “Enabled” LED patent portfolio was expanded by some 2000 patents. Likewise, from their marketing material you can tell, that they still sign on 100 or so new licensees every year. And other public sources can tell you, that they still rather frequently sue for patent infringement in the US and that these cases have practically speaking always ended with a settlement- and license-announcement. So, less aggressive is probably at least not entirely correct.
Randy: We hear that they are accepting lower negotiated fees these days. Do you hear that? Nobody pays 3% royalty any more, is that correct?
Villumsen: obviously I don’t ever disclose any confidential information, including what royalty rates individual clients are paying, but Signify’s publicly announced starting point still is 3-5 % royalty rates for single color, tunable white and color changing luminaries, respectively. That being said, Signify has for a very long time now also publicly “offered” a so-called flat rate royalty and – while they have probably not become very less aggressive, as I said before – as we discussed in May, there are certainly ways of trying to reduce the royalty burden with my help.
Randy: You are here at Light 22 – do you intend to go to Lightfair and other conventions next year?
Villumsen: I certainly do, so see you there ! Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to email me to sign up for my webinar on IP in the lighting industry January 26, 2023 4-6 PM CET.