Noerr wins mp3 key patent licensing lawsuit for Thomson Licensing

04.03.2019

In patent licensing litigation involving the mp3 key patents known throughout the world, Noerr successfully represented Thomson Licensing (TLS) in the appeal before the Munich Higher Regional Court. In its final judgment, the court dismissed the appeal lodged by Pioneer Corp. against a judgment handed down by the trial court, the Munich Regional Court (case no.: 6 U 1354/18). In March 2018, the trial court had dismissed the complaint lodged by Pioneer Corp. for repayment of around €15 million in licence fees.

TLS administers the most important mp3 patent pool worldwide, which includes the mp3 key patents held by the Fraunhofer Institute. All of these patents have now expired. Pioneer was one of TLS's many licensees. At the end of 2016, Pioneer lodged a complaint against TLS with the Munich Regional Court for repayment of the licence fees it had paid since 2013, arguing that Pioneer did not use any of the licensed patents in its products.

The complex proceedings involved possible patent infringements in a number of jurisdictions, as well as complicated issues related to antitrust and licensing law. In the proceedings, TLS relied on a team from Noerr led by Ralph Nack.

Counsel for Thomson Licensing: Noerr LLP

Ralph Nack, Thomas Gniadek (both Munich), Sebastian Wündisch (Dresden), Associate: Armin Kühne (Munich, all Intellectual Property)

PR team


Intellectual Property

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