Meta and Alibaba join Access Advance pools for multi-codec licensing

This move signals a shift toward consolidated patent licensing for the core technologies underpinning modern streaming. By securing Meta, the VDP Pool effectively standardizes royalty obligations for a massive share of global internet traffic, particularly as Meta pushes AV1 adoption for real-time and VOD services. For the ecosystem, this reduces the risk of fragmented litigation and simplifies the tech stack for platforms managing multi-codec manifests. Watch for whether other major AOMedia members, such as Amazon or Netflix, follow this path to resolve long-standing IP uncertainties in the AV1 and VVC markets.

The licensing landscape for video codecs has undergone significant consolidation recently to resolve historical fragmentation. In December 2025, Access Advance acquired the administrator of Via Licensing Alliance’s HEVC and VVC patent pools, forming the VCL Advance program. According to reporting from IP Fray and Access Advance, this acquisition was designed to create a "one-stop shop" for implementers, addressing industry concerns over having to navigate multiple, overlapping licensing pools for the same standards.

Simultaneously, major distributors have drastically increased their reliance on advanced codecs to manage delivery costs. Per data from AOMedia and Transcodely in early 2026, AV1 now powers more than 70% of video playback across Meta’s primary platforms, including Facebook and Messenger. This internal adoption has been mirrored by Netflix, which reported in January 2026 that 88% of recently certified large-screen devices now include native AV1 hardware decode support.

To incentivize participation before global rate hikes, Access Advance extended a key deadline to June 30, 2026, for companies to secure existing HEVC Advance royalty rates and caps through 2030. According to CSI Magazine, this extension was paired with the Multi-Codec Bridging Agreement, which offers discounts for companies that license both HEVC and VVC portfolios concurrently. The addition of Roku as the first U.S.-based VDP licensee in January 2026 set a precedent for the larger tech firms like Meta to formalize their patent obligations as codec usage reaches ubiquity.