On September 2, 2025, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) dismissed an appeal filed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The appeal challenged a July 13, 2023 ruling by the Delhi High Court (HC) that had quashed a CCI investigation into alleged SEP abuse by Ericsson, initiated following complaints from domestic smartphone manufacturers (Micromax, iBall, Intex, etc.).

This ruling concludes a 12-year-long dispute. The CCI cannot reinstate any investigations that were dismissed by the Delhi High Court two years ago. These investigations were terminated after Ericsson successfully appealed portions of an unfavorable single-judge ruling to the Delhi High Court Division Bench. The single judge had agreed with Ericsson that the Indian Patents Act is a special law that should prevail over general competition law, yet still permitted the investigation to proceed. The dispute between the relevant private parties had long been settled, which was partly why the Delhi High Court Division Bench ruled that the CCI lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

Currently, the CCI cannot investigate SEPs or other patent assertions under the Indian Patents Act. However, the CCI is actively lobbying for new legislation to regulate SEP enforcement in India.