InterDigital contends that it initially approached Disney in July 2022 to discuss a licensing deal, but the entertainment titan failed to comply. The lawsuit, according to InterDigital, is a necessary step to put an end to Disney’s continued infringement.
Legal Showdown Spans U.S. and International Courts
The lawsuit isn’t confined to the U.S. InterDigital has filed claims in multiple venues, including the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the Munich Regional Court in Germany, the Unified Patent Court, and the Rio de Janeiro State Court. The company alleges Disney’s “ongoing infringement” of its patents but has provided limited details on the full scope of the violations.
In its California lawsuit, InterDigital has asserted five patents covering essential streaming functionalities such as video encoding, color correction, and user interface design. While some of the patents are tied to high-efficiency video coding (HEVC), none of those cited in the U.S. proceedings are classified as standard-essential patents.
Disney Silent Amidst Mounting Legal Pressure
Despite the weight of these allegations, Disney has yet to issue a formal response. Representatives for the company did not immediately return requests for comment on Tuesday.
