#China #Shenzhen #HEVC Advance #PurpleVine #TCL

TCL and PurpleVine: A New Chapter in Patent Management

On November 26, 2024, an important milestone was achieved in the realm of patent licensing. TCL Electronics Holdings Limited officially entered the prestigious community of the HEVC Advance patent system, marking a pivotal moment in their ongoing journey within the tech industry. This success was orchestrated through the expert guidance of PurpleVine IP Group, a leading provider of intellectual property services, instrumental in navigating the complexities of global patent landscapes.

PurpleVine’s involvement was comprehensive, as they offered strategic planning, global litigation management, and negotiation assistance. This multifaceted support was crucial in helping TCL settle long-standing litigations concerning High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) and secure a license to the relevant patents. The years of litigation, fueled by various disputes with prominent licensors such as Dolby, Philips, and Mitsubishi Electric, were finally addressed with PurpleVine's adept assistance.

In recent years, TCL faced multiple lawsuits from key licensors within the HEVC community. These litigations spanned various jurisdictions including Germany, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Europe, and Brazil, resulting in numerous injunction requests against the company. To counter these challenges, PurpleVine devised a tailored defense strategy for each contested jurisdiction. Their team's collaboration with local attorneys produced arguments compliant with FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, And Non-Discriminatory) standards, effectively neutralizing the threats of injunctions and achieving over 90% success rate in patent invalidation at trial levels.

Additionally, PurpleVine took a proactive approach by filing counteractions against Access Advance and HEVC licensors in several jurisdictions, notably China, Brazil, and Germany. Noteworthy was TCL's precedent-setting legal action in Chinese courts, challenging both SEP licensing fees and the alleged monopolistic practices of the licensors. These cases marked a significant milestone, as they were the first instances globally where courts acknowledged jurisdiction over licensing rates and antitrust claims within the SEP community, establishing transformative legal precedents.

The legal landscape was fraught with complexity, embodied in a multi-jurisdictional litigation saga that highlighted PurpleVine's expertise in high-stakes intellectual property litigation. Daniel Fu, TCL's General Counsel, expressed his satisfaction, stating, "We are thrilled to have signed a license with the HEVC patent community through the support of PurpleVine IP. This transaction benefits the licensing ecosystem and fosters the advancement of cutting-edge technologies for consumer welfare."

The strategic leadership and adept litigation management of PurpleVine further emphasizes their prominence as a top-tier provider of cross-border intellectual property services. Their skilled negotiation tactics and comprehensive guidance have been invaluable to TCL throughout this process.

Overall, this development not only demonstrates TCL’s resilience and commitment to innovation in technology but also highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in navigating the intricate world of intellectual property. As the tech industry continues to evolve, stories like this serve as reminders of the critical role that effective patent management plays in fostering innovation and competition in the marketplace.