On December 8th, 2015, the District Court of Mannheim, Germany will hear a case brought by Max Sound Corporation against Google and YouTube for the alleged infringement of a video streaming patent, and is requesting a court order that stops Google Android devices and YouTube from using current VP8 or H.264 video codecs. Max Sound is also requesting that Google cease sales of Nexus Phones and Chromecast sticks that stream video using the codecs. The hearing will be closed the same day, according to German practice, with a decision expected to follow a few weeks later. In short, the claim is that technology used in VP8 and H.264 video codecs is protected by European Patent EP 2 026 277. Max Sound will, in addition, be seeking damages. “This is an important step in safeguarding and protecting our valuable intellectual property,” said John Blaisure, CEO of Max Sound Corp.
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SANTA MONICA, California and DUSSELDORF, Germany, June 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —
The District Court of Mannheim has scheduled the hearing in the video streaming patent case against Google and YouTube for 8 December 2015. According to German practice, the hearing will be closed on the same day, and a court decision is expected a few weeks later.
The case was filed by Max Sound Corporation (OTCQB: MAXD) against Google Inc., Mountain View, USA, Google Commerce Ltd., Dublin, Ireland, Google Germany GmbH, Hamburg, Germany, and the Google subsidiary YouTube LLC, San Bruno, USA, in December 2014 because of the infringement of a video streaming patent, which is valid for the world’s most important markets.
Max Sound requested the German court to order Google and YouTube to stop streaming video via using the current VP8 or H.264 video codecs and to stop selling video-enabled devices like Nexus Phones and Chromecast sticks. Further requests are that information about any profits is rendered and that Google and YouTube are declared liable for damages based on patent infringement. Max Sound claims that Google and YouTube are using the technology protected by European Patent EP 2 026 277, which allows far more economically efficient transport of digital content due to greatly optimized data capacity. The technology is claimed to be incorporated in H.264 and VP8 video standards used by Google and YouTube.
The publicly traded U.S. based technology company Max Sound is inventor of the MAX-D HD Audio Standard, and is holder of a worldwide license of the above patent, which is owned by Vedanti Systems Ltd.
Max Sound Corp. and VSL Communications have already successfully enforced this patent at the International Consumer Electronics Fair Berlin (IFA) 2014. The District Court of Berlin granted provisional injunctions, which prohibited two suppliers of Android devices to promote their products at the world’s largest trade fair for consumer electronics.
In 2010, Google had shown interest in an acquisition of VSL and used this process to gain a comprehensive insight into the video streaming technology of VSL.
John Blaisure, CEO of Max Sound Corp. says, “We are pleased that our lawsuit against Google and YouTube has been admitted in Germany and that the court hearing will take place in a few months. In view of the evidence submitted we are confident, that we can expect an enforceable decision. This is an important step in safeguarding and protecting our valuable intellectual property.”
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