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Video Coding Patent Litigation Evolves in Response to Technological Advancements
Between 2020 and 2021, video coding patent litigations in the United States witnessed a significant increase, driven by the rapid development and integration of video conferencing, streaming services, and smart devices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This surge in litigation was fueled by aggressive enforcement from Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs), resulting in a record number of cases targeting various industry players, according to recent reports.
However, starting in 2022, the overall number of litigation cases began to decline due to significant shifts in patent licensing strategies. Notably, the merger of major patent pools, such as Via Licensing and MPEG LA, has streamlined licensing frameworks, while new single-license models targeting content distributors rather than device manufacturers have simplified enforcement and reduced fragmented lawsuits.
Despite the decreasing volume of litigation, the risk for companies remains substantial and increasingly complex. Patent holders and NPEs now focus on asserting larger portfolios in fewer, highly targeted lawsuits against major industry players. These focused actions carry the potential for higher damages and more impactful injunctions, raising the stakes for companies using video coding technologies.
A recent analysis of video coding patent litigations in the USA from 2020 to 2025 reveals several critical trends:
- NPEs are the dominant force in enforcement activity, accounting for nine of the top ten plaintiffs, highlighting their continued influence in this technology area.
- Peaking in 2021 with 28 cases, litigation activity has since sharply declined, with projections estimating only three lawsuits in 2025, indicating a transition from volume-driven enforcement to more strategic, targeted litigation.
- Certain patents, such as US6487528, owned by Sunflower Licensing LLC, and US11019372, are repeatedly asserted, signaling their high strategic value. Among defendants, major technology companies such as Lenovo and Google face the greatest enforcement pressure.
- Portfolio-based enforcement is increasingly common, with entities like Sovereign Peak Ventures asserting multiple patents across several litigations, signifying a broad, sustained assertion strategy rather than reliance on single patents.
These insights shed light on ongoing risks and patterns of enforcement in the video coding patent landscape and should be considered in patent strategies and freedom-to-operate (FTO) assessments.
As video coding technologies continue to evolve, companies should be aware of the potential litigation risks associated with the top asserted patents, such as US6487528 and US11019372, especially in the context of VVC (Versatile Video Coding), a foundational standard for many emerging video technologies. A thorough FTO analysis across all relevant product lines is crucial to avoid infringing on high-value patents and potentially facing expensive litigation.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of video coding litigation, understanding the key patents and enforcement trends is essential for companies developing or integrating video coding technologies, such as streaming services, video conferencing tools, and smart devices. This knowledge enables organizations to better anticipate enforcement trends and refine their patent clearance and licensing strategies accordingly.
[Source: Enrichment Data]The most relevant patents for VVC are likely to be standard-essential patents (SEPs), as many of the same patent holders are involved in licensing pools for VVC. However, as of now, major litigation specifically targeting VVC in the USA is not yet prominent in public records. As VVC adoption increases, it is expected that similar patent assertions and litigation will arise around VVC.
Stay informed about the latest trends in video coding patent litigation and protect your business from potential risks by downloading our custom FTO report today.
Data-and-cloud-computing technologies, such as advanced analytics and AI-powered FTO analysis, enable companies to identify high-value video coding patents like US6487528 and US11019372, reducing the risk of expensive litigation. Technology companies integrating video coding technologies, such as streaming services, video conferencing tools, and smart devices, should routinely assess their freedom-to-operate (FTO) in the rapidly evolving landscape of video coding patent litigation.
