Q: Who are the essential patent holders (“Licensors”) to the HEVC Patent Portfolio License?
A: Click here.

Q: What are the obligations of the Licensors with regard to their essential HEVC Essential patents?
A: Each Licensor is under an obligation to grant to MPEG LA a worldwide, nonexclusive license under all HEVC Essential Patents that it and its Affiliates presently or in the future has the right to license or sublicense (without payment to any third party which is not an Affiliate), enabling MPEG LA to grant worldwide, nonexclusive sublicenses under terms of the HEVC Patent Portfolio License.

Q: What is the effect on Licensees when new patents are added to the HEVC Patent Portfolio License?
A: The royalties payable under the License do not increase or decrease because of an increase or decrease in the number of HEVC Essential Patents or because of an increase or decrease in the prices of a Licensee’s HEVC Royalty Products.  Rather, they are the value of a license granted under the Patent Portfolio taking into consideration the commercial intention of the Licensors to facilitate adoption of the HEVC Standard and make available a pool license in which royalties are the same whether one or more patents is used.  New Licensors and new patents are added at no additional cost during the current Term of the License.

Q: Are all HEVC essential patents included?
A: While Licensors are under an obligation to grant to MPEG LA a worldwide, nonexclusive license under all HEVC Essential Patents that it and its Affiliates presently or in the future has the right to license or sublicense, enabling MPEG LA to grant worldwide, nonexclusive sublicenses under terms of the HEVC Patent Portfolio License, no assurance is or can be made that the License includes every essential patent. The purpose of the License is to offer a convenient licensing alternative to everyone on the same terms and to include as much essential intellectual property as possible for their convenience. Participation in the License is voluntary on the part of essential patent holders, however.

Q: How may a patent holder become a Licensor to the HEVC Patent Portfolio License?
A: Any party that believes it has patents which are essential to the HEVC Standard, and wishes to participate in the HEVC Patent Portfolio License upon successful evaluation, is invited to submit them for evaluation and inclusion. Click here to request a copy of the terms and procedures governing the patent submission process.

Q: How many licenses does an HEVC user need?
A: It is up to each user to determine its own licensing needs and how it wishes to meet them. The HEVC Patent Portfolio License is provided for a user’s convenience in acquiring patent rights necessary for the HEVC Standard from multiple essential patent holders in a single transaction as an alternative to negotiating separate license agreements with individual Licensors. Users are free to negotiate directly with one or more Licensors for a separate license under one or more Essential Patents under independently negotiated terms, however. In addition, as discussed above, users who take MPEG LA’s license may have to negotiate licenses for essential patents that are not included. A license also may be necessary for other important patents (that are not essential to the HEVC standard).

Q: How is the HEVC Patent Portfolio License organized?
A. Click here for information.

Q: What are the royalties for the HEVC Patent Portfolio License?
A: Royalties apply as defined in the License. Click here for information.

Q: Do the same licensing terms apply to all profiles of the HEVC Standard?
A: Yes, the same terms apply whether one or more profiles is used.