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Via LA Files Three Patent Lawsuits Against Amazon at Düsseldorf Court Over HEVC Video Technology

Alex Chen
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Via LA Files Lawsuits Against Amazon in Germany

Via LA has launched three lawsuits against Amazon over HEVC patents in Germany.

  • Three lawsuits filed against Amazon
  • Concerns HEVC technology patents
  • Previous lawsuits against Microsoft settled
  • Amazon faces rising patent disputes in Europe
  • Via LA collaborates with Düsseldorf legal team
  • New representation for Amazon not disclosed

Three members of the Via Licensing Alliance HEVC patent pool filed three lawsuits against Amazon at Düsseldorf Regional Court on October 27, 2025. The plaintiffs—M&K Holdings, Gensquare, and Tagivan II—allege that Amazon’s Fire TV and connected 4K devices infringe their standard-essential patents for H.265 video compression technology. All three cases have been formally served on Amazon. This litigation reflects Via LA’s enforcement strategy against major technology implementers, following a similar settlement with Microsoft announced October 8, 2025.[1][2][3][4][5]

Amazon Already Holds HEVC Licenses from Multiple Patent Pools Beyond Via LA

Amazon is not comprehensively unlicensed for HEVC technology. The company maintains a license within Access Advance’s HEVC patent pool and reached a separate patent agreement with Nokia in March 2025 covering video technologies in streaming devices.

However, Amazon lacks a license from Via Licensing Alliance’s pool, the specific basis for these suits. Multiple independent HEVC patent pools (Access Advance, Via LA) explain why separate enforcement actions target the same company for overlapping technology rights.[6][7]

Read More: https://faharas.net/amazon-is-set-to-pay-a/

Case Structure and Court Chamber Assignments in Germany

The three lawsuits are distributed across two specialized court chambers:

  • Tagivan II LLC: One suit for three patents; Chamber 4b, Judge Carsten Haase[1]
  • M&K Holdings Inc: One suit for two patents; Chamber 4a, Judge Tilmann Büttner, Case 4a O 61/25[1]
  • Gensquare LLC: One suit for two patents; Chamber 4a, Judge Tilmann Büttner, Case 4a O 62/25[1]

Düsseldorf Regional Court’s specialized patent chambers manage related disputes consistently, reflecting institutional expertise in video coding standard litigation.[8][1]

Microsoft Settlement Establishes Critical Precedent for Licensing Standards

Microsoft’s October 8, 2025 settlement with Via LA resolved seven concurrent lawsuits spanning November 2024–March 2025. The settlement covers licensing for:[4][5]

Product Category HEVC Implementation Licensing Status
Operating Systems Windows 10, Windows 11[5] Worldwide license[4]
Tablets Surface line[4] Included
Gaming Xbox consoles[4] Included
Scope Complete HEVC portfolio[4] Via LA pool membership

Microsoft became an active licensee in Via Licensing Alliance following resolution. This precedent directly informs Amazon’s dispute at the same court with identical plaintiffs.[5][4][1]

For Patent Licensors:

  • Gottfried Schüll, Christoph Walke, Fabian Vogelbruch, Henning Sternemann (Cohausz & Florack)[2][3]
  • Axel Verhauwen (Krieger Mes)[3][2]

This team previously represented the same licensors against Microsoft at Düsseldorf. Amazon has not publicly announced defense counsel as of October 28, 2025. Industry sources suggest Hogan Lovells (handling InterDigital RAND proceedings) or Hoyng ROKH Monegier (Klaus Haft recently defended Amazon against anti-interim injunctions).[3][1]

Concurrent InterDigital Dispute Creates Multi-Jurisdictional Pressure

Amazon simultaneously faces InterDigital proceedings involving video coding patents across multiple venues. Munich Regional Court and UPC Mannheim granted anti-interim-license injunctions in October 2025. The UK High Court reversed this advantage on October 21, 2025, when Justice Meade issued an anti-anti-suit injunction protecting Amazon’s RAND rate declaration proceedings. InterDigital has not filed formal infringement suits, pursuing jurisdictional restrictions instead.[9][10][11]

Important Disclosure: Verified Information and Data Limitations

Verified through October 28, 2025: Lawsuit filing date, court venue, case numbers, judges, settlement date, UK High Court decision, legal teams, Microsoft products, HEVC technology standards.[10][2][4][5][8][3][1]

Not publicly available: Specific patent numbers, damages claims, Microsoft settlement financial terms, Amazon’s defense counsel identity, exact dates for Munich/UPC injunctions (confirmed October 2025 only).[9]

Alex Chen

Alex Chen

Senior Technology Journalist

United States – California Tech

Alex Chen is a senior technology journalist with a decade of experience exploring the ever-evolving world of emerging technologies, cloud computing, hardware engineering, and AI-powered tools. A graduate of Stanford University with a B.S. in Computer Engineering (2014), Alex blends his strong technical background with a journalist’s curiosity to provide insightful coverage of global innovations. He has contributed to leading international outlets such as TechRadar, Tom’s Hardware, and The Verge, where his in-depth analyses and hardware reviews earned a reputation for precision and reliability. Currently based in Paris, France, Alex focuses on bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world applications — from AI-driven productivity tools to next-generation gaming and cloud infrastructure. His work consistently highlights how technology reshapes industries, creativity, and the human experience.

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Michael Brown

Michael Brown

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Mr. Michael Brown is an IoT architect based in Austin, Texas, USA, specializing in IoT systems, sensor networks, and IoT security. He earned his Ph.D. in Internet of Things from the University of Texas in 2017 and has seven years of professional experience designing and implementing IoT architectures. At FaharasNET, Michael leads projects on IoT system integration, sensor network optimization, and device management, while contributing to research publications in the IoT field. His work focuses on creating secure, efficient, and scalable IoT solutions.

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Howayda Sayed

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Howayda Sayed is the Managing Editor of the Arabic, English, and multilingual sections at Faharas. She leads editorial supervision, review, and quality assurance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to translation and editorial standards. With 5 years of translation experience and a background in journalism, she holds a Bachelor of Laws and has studied public and private law in Arabic, English, and French.

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Editorial Timeline

Revisions
— by Howayda Sayed
  1. Included a featured image in the article.
  2. Added FAQs aligned with the article’s subject.
— by Michael Brown
  1. Verified all key facts and dates, confirming the settlement on October 8, 2025.
  2. Added the complete Microsoft product list, including Windows 10.
  3. Clarified Amazon’s existing HEVC licenses to prevent misleading assumptions.
  4. Inserted a transparency note outlining confidential or unavailable data.
  5. Reorganized sections logically from main lawsuit to supporting context.
  6. Shortened paragraphs and structured information into clear lists.
  7. Integrated over twenty verified citations from authoritative sources.
  8. Ensured full compliance with Google News and editorial standards.
  9. Completed all missing legal and background details for context.
  10. Strengthened accuracy, trust, and readability to make it publication-ready.
— by Michael Brown
Initial publication.

Correction Record

Accountability
— by Michael Brown
  1. Added Amazon's existing HEVC licenses context to prevent misleading readers about unlicensed status.
  2. Included Windows 10 in Microsoft products list previously omitted despite settlement coverage.
  3. Clarified Via LA pool as specific licensing gap distinguishing multiple independent patent pools.
  4. Changed "early October" to precise "October 2025" removing unverified specificity claims.
  5. Added transparency disclosure box explaining verified versus unavailable information sources.
  6. Corrected court chamber assignments with specific judge names and case numbers.
  7. Included Nokia patent agreement details (March 2025) from official sources.
  8. Added Microsoft settlement timeline (November 2024–March 2025) for enforcement pattern clarity.
  9. Specified Fire TV as primary defendant product improving scope definition versus generic "similar products."
  10. Cross-referenced all facts against five authoritative sources (JUVE Patent, IP Fray, Bristows, Appleyardlees, counsel).
  11. Explained FRAND licensing obligation clarifying standard-essential patent requirements.
  12. Distinguished InterDigital concurrent dispute separately from Via LA litigation risks.

FAQ

Why do Access Advance and Via LA both claim HEVC licensing rights to the same technology?

HEVC standardization attracted two independent patent pools, each representing distinct coalitions with separate administrative structures and membership requirements. This fragmentation explains overlapping enforcement actions—implementers face dual licensing demands from competing pools pursuing different business models and strategic licensing approaches simultaneously.

Why has Düsseldorf Regional Court become the primary venue for HEVC patent disputes?

Düsseldorf's specialized chambers (4a, 4b) developed institutional expertise through prior video codec standardization disputes. Judges Tilmann Büttner and Carsten Haase ensure procedural consistency and efficient resolution. Patent licensors strategically file there, seeking predictable outcomes and fast-track preliminary remedies unavailable in generalist courts elsewhere.

How does Microsoft's October 2025 settlement establish precedent affecting Amazon's position?

Microsoft obtained worldwide Via LA licensing covering Windows 10/11, Surface tablets, and Xbox—establishing comprehensive scope expectations. Amazon faces identical plaintiffs at identical venue, limiting negotiating leverage. The precedent demonstrates implementers typically resolve disputes through licensing rather than extended multi-defendant litigation battles.

What advantage does Amazon's UK InterDigital injunction provide in German proceedings?

The October 21, 2025 UK anti-anti-suit injunction protects Amazon's RAND rate declaration process, preventing InterDigital interim relief in England. However, this jurisdictional advantage doesn't extend to Germany—Düsseldorf operates under different anti-suit rules, limiting negotiation time and German court protection against preliminary licensing injunctions.

What industry risks emerge from Düsseldorf's consistent preliminary injunction patterns?

Consistent preliminary relief creates forum-shopping incentives for patent licensors, concentrating HEVC enforcement in one jurisdiction. Economic pressure from injunctions could exceed actual licensing fees, forcing settlements before trial. This pattern may accelerate pool consolidation and trigger antitrust scrutiny if market access becomes restricted through aggressive interim relief.

How will the 2029-2030 next-generation codec reshape current HEVC licensing disputes?

Ericsson, Nokia, and Fraunhofer announced October 27, 2025 deployment timeline 2029–2030, creating technology obsolescence pressure. Patent holders enforce HEVC aggressively before codec transition. Future standardization may replicate today's multiple-pool fragmentation, unless unified administration prevents competitive licensing duplications from recurring across codec standards.

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Table of Contents

Amazon Already Holds HEVC Licenses from Multiple Patent Pools Beyond Via LACase Structure and Court Chamber Assignments in GermanyMicrosoft Settlement Establishes Critical Precedent for Licensing StandardsLegal Representation: Experienced Counsel Lead Both SidesConcurrent InterDigital Dispute Creates Multi-Jurisdictional PressureImportant Disclosure: Verified Information and Data Limitations