MPEG-4 Visual patents expire globally as final Brazilian holdout lapses

While technically superseded by H.264 and AV1, the full patent expiration of MPEG-4 Part 2 provides absolute legal finality for archiving and legacy playback systems. For the streaming industry, it marks the end of a 'patent thicket' era that stunted the codec's early commercial adoption. This shift simplifies compliance for hardware manufacturers and software distributors operating in the Brazilian market, the world's seventh-largest economy. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder of the long-tail licensing risks inherent in global standards. Watch for a consolidated push in open-source distributions to finalize the integration of previously 'restricted' codec packages as the IP burden officially hits zero.

The expiration of the MPEG-4 Part 2 pool comes amidst a shifting landscape for newer, more efficient video standards. Per Streaming Media in March 2026, the industry is currently navigating a split ecosystem where the royalty-free AV1 codec competes with the licensed VVC (H.266) standard. While AV1 was launched by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) as an unencumbered alternative, its 'royalty-free' status has been challenged by the Sisvel patent pool. According to reporting from ForaSoft in July 2026, Sisvel continues to claim royalties from device manufacturers, even as major implementers like Netflix and Google maintain a zero-royalty posture, helping AV1 reach a projected 30% of total streaming hours by the end of 2026.

Simultaneously, the VIA Licensing Alliance—formed by the May 2023 merger of Via Licensing and MPEG LA—remains a central figure in licensing more modern formats. Per JUVE Patent in October 2025, Via LA recently settled a significant HEVC (H.265) patent dispute with Microsoft and listed Google as a licensee, signaling that even the most aggressive open-source proponents are finding paths toward compromise in the patent-heavy video space. Meanwhile, next-generation development is already moving toward 'Beyond VVC' (H.267). Per GreyB in October 2025, these emerging standards focus on Neural Network Video Coding (NNVC), with major tech players like Apple and Meta notably absent from certain joint development efforts in favor of proprietary or AOMedia-led paths.