Xiaomi prevails in high-stakes H.265 patent litigation

In a decisive outcome, Xiaomi has emerged victorious in its prolonged patent conflict against GE Video Compression. China’s Supreme People’s Court delivered the final ruling, siding with Xiaomi and invalidating GE’s HEVC/H.265 video codec patent (ZL201610412832.3). This dispute, ongoing since August 2020, held significant implications for Xiaomi, given the central role of HEVC technology in products such as the Xiaomi Pad 6 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Xiaomi pursued a proactive legal strategy by petitioning the National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) to invalidate GE’s patent in February 2022. After a five-month review, the patent was officially annulled. Despite multiple appeals from GE Video Compression, the Supreme People’s Court upheld the decision in July 2025, citing a lack of inventive step in the patent’s claims.

Background: The Core of the Patent Dispute

At the heart of the case was a patent covering technical methods for decoding and generating video streams using the HEVC/H.265 standard—a critical technology for efficient video playback and compression in modern devices. GE Video Compression, a founding member of the HEVC Advance (now Access Advance) patent pool, had previously initiated legal action against Xiaomi and other manufacturers in Germany for alleged non-payment of licensing fees.

Xiaomi’s decision to contest, rather than settle, is notable. The outcome not only reinforces Xiaomi’s legal standing but also sets an industry precedent, potentially influencing how other manufacturers approach licensing negotiations with MPEG LA, Velos Media, and Access Advance.

Industry Impact and Strategic Implications

This case may signal a shift in how Chinese—and potentially global—manufacturers address challenges from patent pools. The ruling affirms that not all “standard essential patents” are automatically valid, promoting a more balanced and transparent approach to intellectual property in the technology sector. Xiaomi’s success could encourage industry peers to rigorously contest questionable patents, potentially reducing exposure to onerous licensing fees and promoting a healthier competitive landscape.

This victory is more than a legal milestone for Xiaomi—it serves as a strategic win for China’s technology ecosystem as a whole.

Keeping Up-to-Date with Xiaomi Apps

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Source: IT Home