February 17, 2026, 7:33 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The Munich Regional Court imposed a sales ban on Acer and Asus in Germany. The reason is a patent dispute won by Nokia.
A recent court ruling has significant implications for the German PC market. Manufacturers Acer and Asus are currently prohibited from selling notebooks and desktop computers in Germany. The background is a legal dispute with the Finnish company Nokia, which secured a victory in the Munich Regional Court I. The decision affects two of the largest PC manufacturers worldwide and leads to considerable restrictions in distribution.
Acer and Asus with Patent Infringement
The court found that Acer and Asus infringed on the Nokia patent EP 2 661 892. This patent is relevant for the H.265 video standard, which is used in many modern computers for efficient compression and playback of high-resolution videos. The manufacturers do not have a license to use this technology, which led to the ruling.
The H.265 standard is an essential component of modern multimedia applications. It is frequently used in streaming services and the playback of high-resolution content.
Court Imposes Sales Ban
Due to the patent infringement, the court issued an injunction. This prohibits the sale, import, and distribution of the affected devices in Germany. Acer and Asus have not yet agreed to the licensing terms demanded by Nokia. Therefore, the sales ban is the only remaining step until an agreement or licensing occurs.
Violations of this injunction could be penalized with significant fines. However, the sale of existing stock is still permitted.
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Impact on Customers and Retailers
The ruling primarily brings uncertainty for customers. Retailers can still sell their existing stock, but without an agreement, certain models may soon become unavailable. Acer has confirmed that it has temporarily halted the distribution of the affected products, as reported by “PC-Welt.”
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The German websites of Acer and Asus are currently not regularly accessible. Other product categories such as monitors and accessories are still available, although the Acer website currently shows no content.
Comparable Disputes
This case is part of a series of disputes that Nokia has conducted against various electronics manufacturers in recent years. In the past, there have been similar conflicts with smartphone manufacturers Oppo and Vivo, as well as with streaming hardware providers like Amazon. These disputes ultimately ended in licensing agreements with Nokia, allowing the resumption of regular sales of the affected products.