Dolby sues Nothing at UPC over EVS standard essential patents

This litigation marks a significant escalation in the enforcement of standard essential patents for audio codecs within the European market. By leveraging the Unified Patent Court, Dolby is testing a centralized legal framework to secure licensing revenue for technologies fundamental to VoLTE and high-fidelity wireless audio. The move highlights a shift where major licensors like Dolby and Huawei are consolidating IP portfolios to pressure smaller hardware manufacturers like Nothing. As the streaming and mobile ecosystems converge on higher audio standards, this case sets a precedent for how EVS and IVAS technologies will be monetized across the EU. Watch for the Munich Local Division's ruling to see if it adopts the conditional injunction model recently utilized by Chinese courts.

Dolby's enforcement campaign around EVS patents is part of a broader industry effort to monetize 3GPP audio codec standards through patent pools and direct licensing. Via LA, the licensing administrator that manages patent pools for multiple codec standards, has been actively expanding its EVS licensing program since 2023, adding new patent holders and updating royalty rates for Enhanced Voice Services to cover implementations in smartphones, base stations, and infrastructure equipment. The EVS codec, standardized by 3GPP in Release 12, is now mandatory for VoLTE deployments across major carriers, making it a high-value target for SEP enforcement. Dolby's acquisition of Huawei's EVS patent portfolio in 2025 positioned it as one of the largest single holders of EVS-essential patents, giving the company significant leverage in licensing negotiations with device manufacturers.

The Unified Patent Court has become a preferred venue for SEP enforcement in Europe since its launch in June 2023, offering patent holders the ability to secure pan-European injunctions through a single proceeding. The UPC's Munich Local Division has handled a growing docket of telecommunications patent cases, with several involving standard essential patents for mobile communication technologies. Nothing Technology, the London-based smartphone maker founded by Carl Pei, has faced increasing patent litigation pressure as it scales its device lineup across European markets. The company's Phone (2) and Phone (2a) models both support EVS for VoLTE calling, making them potential targets for codec patent enforcement. Nothing raised $200 million in a funding round led by Qualcomm Ventures in early 2025, signaling its expansion ambitions even as patent exposure grows.

On the technical side, EVS delivers super-wideband and full-band audio at bitrates from 5.9 kbps to 128 kbps, significantly outperforming the older AMR-WB codec used in earlier VoLTE implementations. The successor codec, IVAS (Immersive Voice and Audio Services), was standardized by 3GPP in Release 18 and is expected to enter commercial deployment in 2026 as carriers upgrade their IMS cores to support immersive audio experiences. The transition from EVS to IVAS creates additional licensing complexity, as device manufacturers must navigate patent obligations for both codecs during the migration period. Dolby's aggressive enforcement at the UPC may accelerate licensing compliance across the industry, but it also raises questions about royalty stacking as multiple patent holders assert overlapping claims on the same codec implementations.