IdeaHub video codec patent challenged

On January 31, 2025, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 10,904,539, owned by Ideahub Inc., an NPE. The ‘539 patent relates to video coding techniques that apply linear method (LM) prediction modes and particularly to the prediction of a chroma pixel value using a LM chroma mode or a low-pass-filtered LM chroma mode. It has been designated as essential to the VVC standard in the Access Advance’s VVC patent pool.

Unified is represented by Dagim Tilahun and Jon Bowser of Haynes and Boone, and by in-house counsel, Jessica L.A. Marks and Michelle Aspen, in this proceeding.

Intellectual Discovery video codec patent challenge instituted

On January 22, 2025, two months after Unified filed an ex parte reexamination, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims of U.S. Patent 9,432,675, owned by Intellectual Discovery, an NPE. The ’675 Patent relates to a decoding method that uses most-probable-candidate modes for performing intraprediction.

Unified is represented by Michael Jones at Rothwell Figg and by in-house counsel, Jessica L.A. Marks and Michelle Aspen, in this proceeding.

To view the reexamination request, visit Unified’s Portal: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/exparte/90019738

Another Velos Media video codec patent challenged

On December 26, 2024, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 10,257,520, owned by Velos Media, an NPE. The '520 patent is generally directed to video coding and decoding processes for employing block rotation when transform skipping is enabled. The ‘520 patent is a listed patent in Velos’ global patent assets.

Unified is represented by Jon Bowser and Adam Erickson of Haynes and Boone, and by in-house counsel, Jessica L.A. Marks and Michelle Aspen, in this proceeding.

"Video Streaming Royalty Stack Best Left to Devices," say Economist

The Brattle Group determined in a recently released report the aggregate value of video streaming technologies is already taken into account through existing device based royalty rates. Brattle considered various video codecs, streaming protocols, content delivery networks, and media players while excluding other technologies like wireless and Internet protocols.

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The report follows the Club Goods economic theory, to determine viewers should pay a fixed fee irrespective of how much content is consumed. The value allocable to each patent holder should consider the substitutability of their patents and the component technology they cover.

Brattle determines a device-based royalty market has generated competition amongst various codecs, thus ensuring that innovation in this space remains vibrant and healthy while minimizing issues such as royalty stacking and double counting. Otherwise, they conclude there will be significant issues with a streaming-based royalty given so many different subscription models including ad based, annual, one-off live events, etc.  

The report was prepared for Unified Patents and is exclusively available to Unified Patents Video Codec Zone members. To join the Video Codec Zone or for more information on the Brattle report, please contact info@unifiedpatents.com.

IP Investments entity, Distributed Media, media streaming patent found invalid

On September 5, 2024, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) entered a notice of intent to issue a reexamination certificate canceling the challenged claims (1-19 and 21) of U.S. Patent 7,739,714, owned and asserted by Distributed Media Solutions, an NPE and entity of IP Investments Group. The ‘714 patent relates to methods and systems for encoding digital multimedia data for transmission over a network. The patent has been asserted against AMC Networks, CuriosityStream, and Fenix International.

View district court litigations by Distributed Media Solutions. Unified was represented by Drew Sommer of Greenberg Traurig, and by in-house counsel, Michelle Aspen and Jessica L.A. Marks, in this proceeding.

To view the reexamination request, visit Unified’s Portal: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/exparte/90019323