A fair deal for innovation
Nokia takes legal action against Acer, Asus and Hisense
Nokia has initiated legal action against Acer, Asus, and Hisense, for the unauthorized use of our technologies in their devices. Acer and Asus’ PCs and Hisense’s smart TVs infringe a mix of Nokia’s video coding patents. The cases have been filed in Germany and the European Unified Patent Court.
Litigation is always a last resort but sometimes it is the only way to respond to companies who choose not to play by the rules. At Nokia, we believe in fostering innovation and collaboration. By sharing our technologies through licensing, we enable other companies to build on our innovation. Unfortunately, all three companies have not agreed to take licenses on fair terms, leaving us with no choice other than to pursue legal action.
Nokia’s innovation has fueled the evolution of consumer electronics
Since 2000, Nokia has invested over €150 billion in research and development, a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology.
Nokia has a long history of contributing fundamental technologies to video coding standards, including the widely used H.264/Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and H.265/High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standards. These technologies, or codecs, enable large video files to be shared over networks by reducing their file size. They have played a crucial role in the evolution of PCs and smart TVs, improving their design, performance, and user experience in many ways by enabling smooth streaming and high-quality video playback.
Video codecs allow for significantly improved video compression, resulting in higher resolution and more detailed images while using less bandwidth. This has enabled PCs and smart TVs to stream stunning 4K and even 8K content. Video coding standards have also paved the way for advanced features like HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Dolby Vision, which enhance the visual experience by providing a wider range of colors and contrast. Furthermore, efficient compression reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted and processed, leading to lower power consumption.
In short: without video compression, consumers around the world wouldn’t be able to enjoy the high-quality video streaming experiences we take for granted.
We seek fair compensation for the use of our technology
At Nokia, our goal is to ensure fair compensation for the use of our inventions. This will allow us to continue investing in the development of future technologies that benefit everyone.
We believe in a level playing field in the market that strikes a balance between those who fund the development of key enabling technologies and those who implement them in their products and services.
Our preference is always to reach amicable agreements – and the vast majority of our over 250 patent licensing agreements have been concluded amicably. In January this year we announced an amicable agreement with Samsung covering the use of Nokia’s video technologies in Samsung’s TVs. Litigation is only ever a last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted.
We hope that Acer, Asus and Hisense will soon agree to accept a license on fair) terms, just like many of their competitors have done. Our door is always open for good-faith negotiations.
