Nokia blocks Acer and Asus UK streaming patent suits
Nokia has successfully won an appeal in the UK, blocking lawsuits brought by Acer and Asus regarding video streaming patent disputes. The Court of Appeal ruled that Nokia had offered a license on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms to be determined through arbitration, thereby ending the London lawsuits against them.
Key Takeaways
- The Court of Appeal permanently stayed the Acer and Asus cases in London.
- Nokia said the ruling means the June and July trial will not proceed.
- The court said Nokia offered licenses on FRAND terms to be determined by arbitration.
- Hisense also sued Nokia in the same dispute but settled before the appeal hearing.
- The broader case is part of a global fight over video coding technology and FRAND licensing.
Why It Matters
The ruling stops two UK lawsuits against Nokia for now and sends the license fight back to arbitration on FRAND terms. It also reinforces the role of English courts in global patent-rate disputes, following the UK Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling that courts can set global FRAND terms. Nokia had already filed cases in the US, Brazil, Germany, and India before Acer and Asus sued in London in June 2025. Watch for whether the underlying FRAND arbitration moves forward and whether any of Nokia’s other cross-border cases change pace.
Read full article at finance.yahoo.com