A major legal blow has hit the German PC market. On January 22, 2026, the Munich I Regional Court (Case No. 7 O 4100/25) imposed a sales ban on Acer and Asus laptops and PCs in Germany.
The decision centers on alleged infringement of Nokia’s standard-essential patents tied to the HEVC/H.265 video codec. The court ruled that both companies failed to secure licenses on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
As a result, Acer and Asus are now prohibited from offering, distributing, importing, possessing, or directly selling affected devices in Germany.
📜 What Sparked the Dispute?
Nokia filed lawsuits last year in both the Munich Regional Court and the Unified Patent Court. The dispute revolves around Nokia’s patent EP2375749, covering technology essential to High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC).
HEVC is widely used in:
Laptops
Tablets
Desktop PCs
Monitors
Because HEVC is a standard-essential technology, manufacturers must obtain proper licensing. The court found Acer and Asus unwilling to meet FRAND conditions, leading to the injunction.
🏢 How Acer & Asus Responded
Acer’s Position
Acer has temporarily suspended notebook and desktop PC sales through its German online store. However, customers can still purchase:
Monitors
Routers
E-scooters
Accessories
The company stated it respects intellectual property rights and is exploring legal appeals for a swift resolution.
Asus Status
Asus has not released an official statement. Its German product pages are currently inaccessible, showing maintenance notices — effectively halting direct sales.
📉 Impact on Germany’s PC Market
The ban applies only to direct manufacturer sales. Major retailers such as Amazon, MediaMarkt, and Saturn may continue selling existing stock.
However, since no new shipments can enter Germany from Acer or Asus:
Future inventory shortages are possible
Prices may rise if supply tightens
Competitors could gain short-term market share
Non-HEVC products remain unaffected for now.
⚙️ Legal Background & FRAND Debate
This case strengthens Munich’s reputation as a key battleground for patent enforcement in Europe. The ruling reinforces the importance of FRAND compliance when using standard-essential technologies.
Similar patent disputes have affected other tech manufacturers in recent years, highlighting growing tensions between IP holders and hardware makers.
News of the ruling broke widely on February 15–16, 2026, with immediate website changes reflecting compliance.
🔮 What Happens Next?
The situation could evolve quickly:
Licensing negotiations may resume
Appeals could temporarily suspend the injunction
Market dynamics may shift if competitors capitalize
For now, Germany’s PC market faces uncertainty as two major global brands pause direct operations.
💡 Stay Updated: Patent Battles Are Reshaping Tech Markets Faster Than Ever
