HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding, H.265) is a video codec that allows high-quality video files to be compressed into smaller file sizes that are easier to download and upload and do not use excessive processing power to play the content, although H.265 can be used for high-resolution video content up to 8K.
However, one issue seen with the support of the H.265 codec is that its use must be done through a licensing system held by a number of certain technology companies, especially Nokia which is one of the main developers and copyright holders of the technology.
Recently, a Munich court in Germany ordered computer brands Acer and ASUS to stop selling their computers in the country because these two companies did not pay a license to use this codec to Nokia under the FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory licensing) licensing law.
There is some confusion about the use of this codec, but in short, the basis of the HEVC codec, namely X265, is open source software. But the HEVC codec developed by Nokia is a significant change in terms of performance and capabilities, where this technology has been licensed and patented, and companies that want to take advantage of it have to pay to use it.
And this is where the companies Acer and ASUS were found to have violated the patent under the law, and were banned from selling their computer devices by the Munich court in Germany. According to the court order, this order is limited to computer devices only, and other products sold are not affected by this issue.
For Acer and ASUS computers that are already in computer and electronics stores in the country can continue to be sold without any issue. However, the two companies are not allowed to sell these computers directly, and any renewal of permits to sell these products will be very difficult to renew as long as they do not pay for the license to use the HEVC codec.
