Tesla scored a unanimous victory at the UK Supreme Court on Monday, winning the right to revive its London lawsuit against U.S. technology firm InterDigital and patent licensing platform Avanci. The case centers on whether Tesla can force a court determination of fair licensing terms for 5G patents — a fight that directly shapes the cost of connecting future Tesla vehicles to 5G networks in Britain. How We Got Here Tesla first filed suit at London's High Court in 2023, challenging the licensing terms Avanci offers automakers for access to a global pool of 5G standard essential patents (SEPs). Avanci's current rate for a 5G vehicle license is $32 per vehicle — more than double the $15 per vehicle rate it charges for 4G. Tesla's position is that this rate does not meet the FRAND standard: Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory terms that SEP holders are legally obligated to offer. The initial High Court ruling in 2024 went against Tesla, with the court dismissing its claim for a FRAND determination while allowing a separate patent revocation challenge to proceed. Tesla's appeal to the Court of Appeal was also rejected. The company then escalated to the UK Supreme Court, drawing support from interveners including the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and the Motion Picture Association — both of which have a stake in how courts treat SEP licensing globally. What the Supreme Court Actually Decided The Supreme Court's July 27 ruling resolves two critical legal questions that had blocked Tesla's case from moving forward. First, the court held that UK courts do have jurisdiction to hear claims for declarations regarding whether rates and terms for global pools of SEPs are FRAND. This is significant: Avanci's license covers patents from multiple countries bundled into a single global rate, and a key defense