Holders of SEPs are obliged to licence the patent's use to competitors in return for a fee on so-called fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (Frand) terms.
The USPTO has also published for review a proposed fee schedule that will expand an existing 50 percent discount on patent application fees for small entities.
Gene patents are potentially even more lucrative and the challenge here is the patent protection that prevents other companies from advancing genetic research without paying a royalty or licensing fee.