A Munich I Regional Court has issued an injunction forcing Acer and ASUS to halt direct sales of numerous laptops and desktops in Germany. The ruling, delivered on January 22, 2026, stems from a patent dispute with Nokia regarding the H.265 video coding standard, also known as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC).
Court Rules Against Licensing Conduct
The legal battle focused on standard-essential patents (SEPs) held by Nokia, specifically patent EP 2 375 749 among others. The court found that Acer and ASUS did not act as "willing licensees" under the FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) framework. This determination allowed the court to grant injunctive relief to Nokia, effectively blocking the manufacturers from selling the infringing hardware directly.
This outcome contrasts with the approach taken by Hisense, which secured a license from Nokia in early January 2026, thereby avoiding similar legal disruptions. Nokia has emphasized that its goal is to receive fair compensation for the use of its video compression technology, which spans H.264, H.265, and H.266 standards.
Immediate Impact on Availability
Following the ruling, both Acer and ASUS have adjusted their German online storefronts, removing affected product listings. However, the injunction specifically targets the manufacturers rather than third-party retailers. Consequently, consumers can likely still purchase existing inventory from major retailers such as Amazon, MediaMarkt, and Saturn until stock runs out.
Acer issued a statement acknowledging the court's decision and expressing respect for intellectual property rights. The company confirmed the temporary suspension of sales activities for affected products in Germany while noting that accessories, monitors, and routers remain unaffected. Acer is currently examining options for further legal action or a negotiated settlement.
While the immediate effect is a disruption in the direct supply chain, a long-term resolution will depend on the outcome of potential appeals or if the manufacturers agree to Nokia's licensing terms.
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