Direct sales of Acer and Asus laptops and desktop PCs in Germany have been suspended after a patent ruling in favour of Nokia. The decision, delivered by the Munich I Regional Court, found that the two PC makers used the company’s video-coding technology without a valid licence.
The case centres on patents tied to High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), a widely used format that enables high-quality video streaming and playback on modern devices. The court said the vendors failed to meet FRAND obligations, allowing an injunction that blocks them from selling directly to customers in the country.
Following the order, Acer has shut its German online store, while Asus has listed several models as unavailable. The restriction applies only to their own sales channels, so consumers can still purchase devices through third-party retailers as long as stocks last.
The ruling is part of a broader global dispute over Nokia’s standard-essential patent portfolio. Industry analysts say the short-term impact on buyers will be limited, but prolonged supply disruptions could reduce product availability in one of Europe’s largest PC markets.
Both companies are expected to appeal the decision or negotiate a licensing deal that could restore normal sales. The outcome will be closely watched across the tech industry, where compliance with core multimedia patents has become a critical requirement for hardware makers.
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