Germany’s notebook market has reopened for ASUS and Acer after a court-ordered halt triggered by a patent dispute with Nokia. The ruling, which initially banned direct sales of devices using HEVC/H.265 encoding technology, has been eased through licensing agreements that avoid injunctive relief.
The conflict centered on whether the two manufacturers complied with FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) licensing terms for Nokia’s patents related to video compression. The Munich Regional Court ruled that ASUS and Acer had not demonstrated the behavior of willing licensees, leaving them exposed to sales bans unless they secured Nokia’s approval.
ASUS has taken a direct approach, negotiating an end to legal proceedings with Nokia, allowing its notebooks to return to German shelves without restrictions. Acer, meanwhile, is adopting a dual strategy: shipping some devices with the HEVC codec pre-installed while offering others where customers can activate support via third-party software. This circumvents the court’s injunction while maintaining compliance with licensing requirements.
The resolution restores access to Germany’s lucrative notebook market for both brands, which together account for a significant share of European sales. For buyers, the decision simplifies purchasing options without immediate price hikes or availability disruptions. The focus now shifts to how long this truce lasts and whether Nokia will enforce stricter compliance in future.
