RPX Taps IP Veteran for Major European Push Amid Patent Shake-Up

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 18, 2026 – Patent risk management leader RPX Corporation today announced a significant strategic expansion into Europe, appointing distinguished intellectual property attorney Oliver Scherenberg as Vice President and Head of RPX Europe. The move signals a major push to bolster the company's presence in a continent undergoing a fundamental overhaul of its patent litigation system, while simultaneously grappling with the complex IP challenges posed by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Scherenberg will be responsible for spearheading RPX's strategic growth and business interests across the European market. The appointment comes as the region's patent landscape is being reshaped by new legal frameworks and rapid technological innovation, creating both new risks and opportunities for global companies.

"The patent litigation landscape in Europe is dynamic and increasingly impactful in global patent policy and patent litigation strategy," said RPX CEO Dan McCurdy in a statement. "Recognizing this, our expanded efforts in Europe will greatly assist us in better serving our nearly 300 member companies."

Navigating the New Unified Patent Court

RPX's sharpened focus on Europe is strategically timed. The continent's patent ecosystem was fundamentally altered with the launch of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and Unitary Patent system on June 1, 2023. This new system, covering 17 member states, creates a single, centralized court for patent disputes, replacing the costly and often inconsistent patchwork of national litigation that previously defined European patent enforcement.

By early 2024, the UPC had already demonstrated its appeal, attracting over 210 cases, including more than 80 infringement actions. The system offers the powerful prospect of a single injunction covering a market with a combined GDP of over $13 trillion. However, this consolidation also raises the stakes exponentially; a single adverse ruling on validity can now nullify a patent across all participating countries. This high-risk, high-reward environment demands a sophisticated and proactive approach to patent strategy, creating a clear need for the defensive services RPX provides.

Furthermore, the system's complexity is increased by a seven-year transitional period allowing patent holders to "opt out" of the UPC's jurisdiction, and the fact that major economies like Spain and Poland are not participating. This creates a multi-layered legal environment where companies must navigate the UPC, national courts, and the European Patent Office (EPO) simultaneously, making expert guidance and risk mitigation more critical than ever.

A Veteran Hand for a Dynamic Market

To lead this crucial expansion, RPX has brought in a leader with deep roots in European IP law and a forward-looking perspective on technology. Oliver Scherenberg joins RPX from his role as General Counsel at Sisvel, a leading global patent pool administrator, where he was instrumental in negotiating and structuring complex joint licensing programs.

With a career spanning over two decades, Scherenberg's experience includes an equity partnership at the German boutique IP firm PREU BOHLIG and his formative years at the international law firm Freshfields, starting in 2005. His work has earned him recognition from numerous prestigious legal rankings, including IAM Patent 1000, MIP IP Stars, and Best Lawyers.

"Oliver is uniquely qualified to lead this expansion given his vast experience and relationships throughout Europe," McCurdy noted. Scherenberg's background in patent pools—a collaborative approach to licensing common in Europe—gives him a unique perspective on managing IP in a market that often favors negotiation and collective solutions over purely adversarial litigation.

The AI and Web3 Patent Frontier

Beyond the structural legal changes, RPX's European strategy is also a direct response to the disruptive force of new technologies. Scherenberg’s specific expertise in generative AI and Web3 law is a key component of this initiative. These fields are creating unprecedented IP challenges that legacy legal frameworks are struggling to address.

Generative AI, in particular, has become a focal point of legal debate in Europe. The use of copyrighted material for training AI models is a contentious issue, and questions surrounding the authorship and patentability of AI-generated inventions are creating uncertainty for innovators. According to the EPO's 2024 Patent Index, computer technology—which includes AI—remains the most active field for patent applications, yet securing protection is challenging. The EPO requires that AI inventions demonstrate a "technical character" to overcome the exclusion of mathematical methods from patentability.

Scherenberg's appointment positions RPX to guide its members through this new terrain. His expertise will be vital in helping companies protect their innovations and defend against infringement claims in a field where the legal goalposts are constantly moving. By embedding this knowledge into its European leadership, RPX is signaling a commitment to addressing the next generation of patent risk, not just the last.

RPX's Defensive Strategy Goes Global

Founded in 2008, RPX pioneered the model of defensive patent aggregation. By proactively acquiring patents on the open market that could pose a threat to its members, the company provides a shield against costly litigation from non-practicing entities (NPEs), often called "patent trolls." To date, the San Francisco-based firm has invested over $5.5 billion to acquire rights to more than 330,000 patent assets on behalf of its international membership.

This European expansion represents a significant scaling of that proven model. The stakes in Europe are high, as evidenced by EPO opposition statistics from 2023, which showed that 38% of all challenged patents were completely revoked. This highlights the value of proactive measures to assess and mitigate patent risk before it escalates to costly proceedings.

By establishing a strong, dedicated presence on the ground led by a respected industry figure, RPX is adapting its global strategy to the specific nuances of the European market. The move is not merely a geographical expansion but a deepening of its capabilities to provide a comprehensive, global risk management solution for technology companies navigating an increasingly complex and interconnected world of intellectual property.