Hisense Enters HEVC Patent Pool
Hisense Group, a major global television manufacturer, has licensed into the HEVC Advance Patent Pool administered by Access Advance LLC. This move provides the company with essential patents for implementing the HEVC/H.265 video compression standard across its devices.
Background on HEVC Standard
The HEVC, or High Efficiency Video Coding standard also known as H.265, succeeded H.264/AVC to handle higher resolutions like 4K and 8K with up to 50% better compression efficiency. It supports frame partitioning, intra- and inter-picture prediction, transforms, in-loop filtering, and entropy coding, enabling efficient delivery of high-resolution streaming video. Adopted widely in consumer electronics, HEVC requires licensing thousands of essential patents from multiple contributors to avoid infringement risks.
Hisense Company Profile
Headquartered in Qingdao, China, Hisense ranks among the world’s top television makers by shipment volume, holding significant shares in large-screen segments. The company reached over 160 countries, producing TVs, projectors, appliances, and OEM products under brands like Toshiba and Gorenje. In Q3 2025, Hisense led global 100-inch TV shipments with 56.6% market share and laser TV with 68.9%, driven by innovations in RGB MiniLED and ultra-short-throw projectors.
Its portfolio spans budget to premium models, including UX series MiniLED TVs positioned above OLED lines, and 8K displays with AI-powered HDR. As TVs incorporate advanced video decoding for streaming and broadcast, compliance with standards like HEVC becomes critical for market access.
HEVC Advance Patent Pool Details
Access Advance manages the HEVC Advance pool, covering over 29,000 patents essential to HEVC from licensors including Dolby, LG Electronics, Philips, and Ericsson. Licensees access this portfolio via a single FRAND agreement, simplifying compliance for device makers. The pool now lists Hisense alongside recent joiners like Xiaomi, MSI, Transsion, and expanded deals with Huawei, HP, and Sharp.
Peter Moller, Access Advance CEO, noted the agreement followed prolonged negotiations, highlighting Hisense’s recognition of efficient licensing for the video ecosystem. This strengthens the pool’s consumer electronics footprint, where HEVC enables 4K/UHD playback in TVs and set-top boxes.
Access Advance also administers the VVC Advance pool for H.266 with 4,500+ patents and a Multi-Codec Bridging Agreement offering discounted rates for dual participation. A recent acquisition of Via Licensing’s HEVC/VVC programs consolidated the market, creating a one-stop licensing option.
Strategic Implications for Licensees
Joining HEVC Advance shields Hisense from patent litigation, a persistent challenge in video codecs where fragmented pools like MPEG LA and Velos Media add complexity. Unlike royalty-free AV1, HEVC’s licensing ensures broad interoperability but demands fees, balancing innovator returns with implementer costs. For Hisense, this supports global TV deployments amid rising 4K/8K demand without legal disruptions.
The deal aligns with industry momentum: HEVC remains dominant for hardware decoding in TVs, despite AV1’s software gains, due to mature ecosystem support. Hisense’s scale amplifies this; as a top shipper, its compliance influences supply chains for OEM partners.
Broader Video Codec Licensing Landscape
Video codec pools evolved to streamline essential patent access, reducing bilateral negotiations. HEVC Advance emphasizes FRAND terms compliant with global laws, covering core functionalities like prediction and filtering. Access Advance’s Video Distribution Pool extends to streaming, bundling HEVC, VVC, VP9, and AV1 for service providers.
Challenges persist: AV1’s royalty-free model accelerates adoption in web video, but HEVC prevails in broadcast and devices with hardware acceleration. Patent thickets slow transitions; pools mitigate this by aggregating portfolios from universities, broadcasters, and firms like Canon and BlackBerry.
Recent consolidations, like the Via acquisition, signal maturation, promising efficiencies for multi-standard devices. For B2B players, this fosters predictable costs in enterprise video infrastructure.
Enterprise and Ecosystem Impact
In enterprise settings, HEVC enables efficient 4K videoconferencing, surveillance, and medical imaging, where bandwidth savings matter. Hisense’s entry reinforces pool stability, encouraging further licensees in pro AV and digital signage. It underscores China’s OEM giants prioritizing compliance for Western markets.
Moller emphasized productive ties ahead, signaling growth in consumer electronics. As VVC/H.266 emerges for 8K+, bridged licensing eases migrations. Overall, such agreements sustain innovation by protecting IP while enabling scale.
