H.264 Patent Infringement Complaints Filed Against ZTE, Huawei in Germany

Several licensors in the H.264 patent pool filed patent infringement complaints against ZTE in Dusseldorf, Germany, MPEG LA said in a Wednesday announcement. The complaints allege ZTE offers mobile phone products in Germany that use “patent-protected” H.264 methods without licenses from the individual patent holders “or a portfolio license that includes these patents offered by MPEG LA,” it said. MPEG LA runs the H.264 patent pool on behalf of three dozen licensors, which until recently included ZTE, “up to and through” the date of its last patent expiration, said MPEG LA’s website. In a separate announcement Wednesday, MPEG LA said several H.264 licensors also filed patent infringement complaints against Huawei, also in Dusseldorf. ZTE and Huawei didn't comment.