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Understanding the VVC Codec Patent Landscape

Using AI classifiers to map undeclared VVC codec patents

What is the VVC Codec Technology Standard

The Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard, or H.266, is a significant leap forward in video codec technology. Offering up to 50% better compression than HEVC (H.265), it supports high-resolution 4K and 8K formats. This makes VVC ideal for efficient streaming, broadcasting, and applications like 360-degree video and machine learning.

The Complex VVC Codec Standard Patent Landscape

As the VVC codec technology gains traction and more players and inventions enter the market, navigating its Standard Essential Patent (SEP) landscape becomes increasingly critical. A significant challenge in the VVC codec patent landscape is the presence of undeclared patents, or patents that have not been declared as a standard for the technology. Identifying undeclared VVC codec patents is crucial to avoiding infringement disputes or negotiating fairer licensing agreements. A qualitative patent landscape analysis will provide strategic insights into competitor portfolios, helping companies make informed IP decisions and stay competitive in the high-resolution video market.

Latest Report

Versatile Video Coding (VVC) Report

The VVC codec patent landscape is complex, with multiple patent pools and varying rules across jurisdictions. This report provides strategic insights into competitor portfolios, helping companies make informed IP decisions and stay competitive in the high-resolution video market.

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Undeclared VVC Codec Patents Present New Challenges to IP Professionals

For licensors, licensees, and legal professionals, the undeclared patents in the VVC landscape necessitate a strategic approach:

Identify

Undeclared patents in this technology make it increasingly difficult for patent professionals to identify relevant patents in the technology.

Evaluate

Once all the patents have been identified, relevant ones need to be distinguished from the rest to be able to develop monetization or other strategies.

Negotiate

Patent analytics provide invaluable insights for negotiations by providing an unbiased, scientifically validated metric to measure the quality of the discussed patents.

Identifying undeclared VVC patents

LexisNexis^®IPlytics offers a strategic approach to uncovering these hidden assets:

Identification: Using AI-based technology classification, we identified patents potentially related to the VVC standard that have not been officially declared.
Validation: Experts review these findings to confirm their relevance to VVC. Unrelated patents are removed from the training data, and the classification model is trained on the updated data.
Ownership: Our approach simplifies the identification of patent holders. Thus, making it easier to understand “who owns what” within the dynamic VVC patent ecosystem.

Who is Leading the VVC Codec Innovation Race

Several key players have contributed substantially to the development of the VVC standard. Qualcomm, Huawei, and Tencent lead in the number of SEPs related to VVC. This reflects their significant R&D investment and influence on the standard. The United States and China are prominent in the development and deployment of VVC technology, hosting the headquarters of many leading innovators in the codec technology space.

Ownership: Our approach simplifies the identification of patent holders, making it easier to understand “who owns what” within the dynamic VVC patent ecosystem.

Navigating VVC Licensors, Licensees & Law Firms’ Market

Licensors: Major technology firms and patent holders offer licenses to their SEPs to manufacturers and service providers worldwide. These licensors play a crucial role in enabling the widespread adoption of VVC by offering standardized terms that comply with Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) commitments.

Licensees: Companies implementing VVC technology in their products must secure licenses from SEP holders. This includes a wide range of industries, from electronics manufacturers to streaming service providers, all of which depend on access to the latest video compression technologies to deliver enhanced services to consumers.

Law Firms & SEP Consultants: Legal teams and consultants specializing in SEPs assist clients in navigating the complexities of VVC licensing. They play a vital role in evaluating portfolios, negotiating licenses, and ensuring compliance with FRAND terms, helping clients optimize their IP strategies and mitigate risks in the evolving video compression landscape.