We study the role of Standard-Essential Patents (SEP) for technological progress in standards.

Standards including SEPs are more often updated, and less likely to be replaced than other standards.

The positive relationship between SEPs and standard updates is particularly strong if the ownership of SEPs is concentrated.

Standards subject to SEPs undergo fewer replacements if SEP owners are specialized in the technological field of the standard.

Our findings are consistent with internalization effects, replacement effects and transaction costs induced by SEPs.