Access Advance said that Samsung Electronics and Sharp Corporation have joined the VVC Advance Patent Pool as both licensors and licensees [1].
This move strengthens the availability of Versatile Video Coding (VVC) technology, which is critical for the next generation of high-efficiency video compression. By bringing in major industry players, the pool reduces the risk of fragmented licensing and potential legal disputes over intellectual property.
Based in Boston, Access Advance manages the licensing of patents essential to video standards [1]. The company said the inclusion of Samsung and Sharp are "significant additions to the VVC Advance Patent Pool" [1].
The agreement allows both companies to contribute their own patents to the pool while also gaining access to the patents of other members. This dual role is a strategic shift that streamlines how companies implement new video standards across global hardware and software platforms.
Industry observers said the deal is "bringing two of the world’s largest video codec patent holders into the program on both sides of the license" [1]. This cooperation is intended to expand the overall portfolio of the VVC Advance Patent Pool, and ensure a more stable ecosystem for developers and manufacturers.
Samsung and Sharp's participation as both licensors and licensees [1] ensures that the pool contains a broader set of essential patents. This reduces the need for third-party manufacturers to negotiate separate deals with multiple patent holders to avoid infringement claims.
“"significant additions to the VVC Advance Patent Pool"”
The entry of Samsung and Sharp into the VVC Advance Patent Pool signals a consolidation of intellectual property for the latest video compression standards. By acting as both licensors and licensees, these giants reduce the likelihood of 'patent wars' and lower the barrier for other tech companies to adopt VVC technology, potentially accelerating the rollout of higher-quality, lower-bandwidth streaming services globally.
