A major patent battle has forced Acer and Asus to suspend direct PC sales in Germany, after Nokia secured a court-ordered injunction over the use of its video-compression technology.
The Munich I Regional Court ruled that the companies infringed Nokia’s standard-essential patents linked to HEVC, a core format used for high-resolution video across laptops and desktops. The judges concluded that the PC brands were not willing licensees under fair and reasonable terms, paving the way for a sales ban through their official channels.
In response, Acer has taken its local e-store offline, while Asus has stopped listing affected products for German customers. Retailers and online marketplaces can still sell existing inventory, meaning the consumer impact will be gradual rather than immediate.
The dispute reflects Nokia’s wider push to monetise its patent portfolio, which spans critical connectivity and multimedia technologies used in millions of devices. Similar cases have been filed in multiple countries as the company seeks licensing agreements from hardware manufacturers.
For the PC industry, the ruling underlines the importance of securing rights to standard-essential technologies that sit at the heart of everyday computing experiences, from video playback to streaming. If negotiations fail, supply constraints in the German market could intensify in the coming months.
A settlement or a successful appeal remains the only clear path for Acer and Asus to fully resume direct sales. Until then, Germany becomes the latest flashpoint in the global fight over tech patent royalties.
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