Nokia wins UK appeal to block Acer, Asus video streaming patent lawsuits

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - Nokia won an appeal ​to ⁠block London lawsuits by Taiwanese ​tech companies Acer and Asus on Tuesday in a case which is part of ​a ‌global dispute over video coding technology. Acer and Asus had previously ⁠obtained a High Court declaration that a willing ⁠licensor in Nokia's position ​would agree to an interim licence until the court decided the "reasonable and non-discriminatory" terms of a patent licence.

But Nokia challenged that ruling ​and the ‌Court of Appeal on Tuesday permanently "stayed" the cases, effectively ending the lawsuits brought against the Finnish technology company.

A Nokia spokesperson said the ruling meant that a trial due to take place ​in June and July will not now proceed. Acer and Asus ‌did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Court of Appeal said that Nokia had ‌offered a licence to Acer and Asus to use its patents on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms to be determined at arbitration, meaning their ​London lawsuits should not continue. China-based Hisense had also sued Nokia, but settled its ‌case before the appeal was heard.

Disputes over the fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms of a patent licence have frequently led to ⁠global legal ⁠battles in the telecoms industry. English courts can ‌set global FRAND terms, following a landmark 2020 UK Supreme Court ruling, as ​can courts ​in China. Before Acer and Asus sued Nokia ‌in London in June 2025, Nokia had filed its own lawsuits in the United States, as well as Brazil, Germany and India. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Alexander Smith)