Intellectual Property

Expanding the Scope

DOCOMO actively researches and develops network related technologies such as W-CDMA, LTE, LTE-Advanced, 5G and Beyond 5G, and new service related technologies such as AI and IoT, with the ultimate goal of enhancing mobile experiences for customers. We are also applying for patents on these technologies. As a result, DOCOMO is having some 3,800 patents in Japan and some 8,200 patents overseas as of March 2021.

Patent Application Data

DOCOMO is steadily expanding the scope of its intellectual property in order to strengthen its competitiveness in Japan and abroad.
In FY 2020, DOCOMO continued to file 5G patent applications, and with an eye on the future of mobile communications also started to file Beyond 5G patents.

Graph showing changes in the number of patent appliedGraph showing changes in the number of patent applied
Photo: Mr. Naoki Tani with a trophy

Naoki Tani
Executive Vice President
Chief Technology Officer
Executive General Manager of
R&D Innovation Division

In February 2021, NTT Group was recognized as one of the "Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovator 2021" by Clarivate. DOCOMO has filed numerous patent applications pertaining to 5G, LTE and other fundamental mobile communication technologies worldwide as a member of the NTT Group. DOCOMO therefore believes that our R&D activities have also been recognized as important elements that have made this award possible.

Patent application field: 5G/Beyond 5G

5G aims to achieve a high capacity network which is able to support increase in traffic with low cost and reduced power consumption.
DOCOMO is conducting research and development to enable a wide range of capabilities such as super high data rate communications of over 10Gbps, lower latency, and simultaneous connection of a large number of terminals in order to support the future spread of IoT and IoE, and continuing relevant intellectual property activities.

DOCOMO has started filing Beyond 5G patent applications for things designed to further improve 5G features such as ultra-high speed/high capacity, ultra-low latency, and simultaneous connection of a large number of terminals.

Data of 5G standard-essential patents owned by DOCOMO

DOCOMO participates in the standardization of wireless technologies, such as 5G and LTE, as well as various related technologies, and has also submitted many technical proposals that have been incorporated into standards.
DOCOMO came to be ranked fourth in the world and first among carriers in terms of shares of 5G standard-essential patentsnotice1 owned, according to a survey conducted in FY2021.

  • 1 Standard-essential patent: A patent which is unavoidably infringed when manufacturing a standard-compliant product without a license from the patent owner.
Graph showing Data of 5G standard-essential patents owned by DOCOMOGraph showing Data of 5G standard-essential patents owned by DOCOMO

Source:New window"Essentiality Evaluation of SEP Declared 5G Patents (3rd division)" by Cyber Creative Institute CO. Ltd. Results Available for Purchase
by Cyber Creative Institute Co., Ltd.

Patent application field: new services

DOCOMO has been applying on patents for service solutions utilizing AI, IoT and big data. In FY2020, DOCOMO strengthened intellectual property activities by increasing the number of patent applications on fundamental technologies for Natural-language dialogue, XR, healthcare, and Data Management Platform (DMP) technology.

The NTT Group, including DOCOMO, came to be ranked first in Japan in terms of the number of patent applications pertaining AI-related inventions submitted, according to a survey conducted in FY2021.

The number of applications for AI-related inventions (by corporate group)The number of applications for AI-related inventions (by corporate group)

Source:New window"Based on data in "Recent Trends in AI-related Inventions" published by the Japan Patent Office

Example of patented technologies about natural dialogExample of patented technologies about natural dialog

Trademark Application Data

DOCOMO has been applying for and maintaining trademarks in order to protect its product brands and service brands. DOCOMO has approximately 1,600 trademarks in Japan and 1,300 trademarks overseas as of March 2021.

d POINT CLUB logo, d-Barai logo, ahamo logo

Patent Licensing

DOCOMO licenses its standard-essential patents on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) terms.
DOCOMO has owned more than 6,000 patents/patent applications worldwide in the field of 3GPP standard-essential patents and continues to license them through both bilateral negotiation and patent pool.

VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.

NTT DOCOMO announced that it has granted a patent license to vivo. The agreement covers DOCOMO's WCDMA, LTE and LTE-Advanced Standard Essential Patents.

Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Co., Ltd.

NTT DOCOMO announced that it has granted a patent license to OPPO. The agreement covers DOCOMO's W-CDMA, LTE and LTE-Advanced Standard Essential Patents.

Xiaomi Inc.

DOCOMO has granted a patent license to Xiaomi Inc. The agreement covers DOCOMO's cellular wireless standard-essential patents.

KYOCERA Corporation

DOCOMO has granted a patent license to KYOCERA Corporation. The agreement covers DOCOMO's W-CDMA, LTE and LTE-Advanced standard-essential patents.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

DOCOMO has granted a patent license to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Sharp Corporation

DOCOMO has granted a patent license to Sharp Corporation. The agreement covers DOCOMO's W-CDMA, LTE and LTE-Advanced standard-essential patents.

Microsoft Corporation

DOCOMO has granted a patent license to Microsoft Corporation. The agreement covers DOCOMO's W-CDMA, LTE and LTE-Advanced standard-essential patents.

HTC Corporation

DOCOMO has granted a patent license to HTC Corporation. The agreement covers DOCOMO's W-CDMA, LTE and LTE-Advanced standard-essential patents.

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

DOCOMO has granted a patent license to Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. The agreement covers DOCOMO's standard-essential patents for wireless communication technologies.

LG Electronics Inc.

DOCOMO has granted a terminal patent license to LG Electronics Inc. The agreement covers DOCOMO's W-CDMA, LTE and LTE-Advanced standard-essential patents.

Including standard-essential patents, if you are interested in taking a license, please contact us at:

Patent Licensing Contact Information
Strategic Licensing Group
Intellectual Property Department
NTT DOCOMO
Sanno Park Tower, 35th Floor, 11-1 Nagata-cho 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6135

patent hyphen license at nttdocomo dot com

Alternatively, it is also possible to obtain licenses to our standard-essential patents through the following patent poolsnotice2. If you are interested in taking a pool license, please contact the concerned Licensing Administrator.

  • 2 Patent Pool: A mechanism whereby a plurality of patent holders collectively license standard-essential patents.

Patent Pools through which DOCOMO Licenses standard-essential patents

Patent Pools through which DOCOMO Licenses standard-essential patents
Patent Pool Licensing Administrator
New windowLTE Via Licensing
New windowW-CDMA Via Licensing
New windowHEVC/H.265 (High Efficiency Video Coding) Access Advance
New windowAVC/H.264 (Advanced Video Coding) MPEG LA
New windowMVC (Multiview Video Coding) MPEG LA
New windowAAC (Advanced Audio Coding) Via Licensing
New windowxHE-AAC (Extended High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding) Via Licensing
New windowEVS (Enhanced Voice Services) MPEG LA
New windowAvanci (IoT) Avanci

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