Smartphone Brands Have Joined VVC Patent Pool
Six major manufacturers have adopted a new licensing framework to support hardware-based video compression technology.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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Six smartphone brands have become licensees of the VVC Advance Patent Pool, a collection of more than 6,000 patents administered by Access Advance. This move allows manufacturers to incorporate hardware VVC support into their upcoming device launches.
Why it matters
By joining this patent pool, manufacturers are working to standardize video compression technology and streamline licensing costs as they transition from older formats to VVC. This adoption aims to resolve lingering hardware and ecosystem dependencies for future mobile devices.
The VVC Advance Patent Pool currently encompasses over 6,000 individual patents. Licensees of this pool now represent a 62% share of the global smartphone market.
The players
Access Advance
This organization acts as an independent administrator for various patent pools, including those focused on video coding technologies.
Samsung
This multinational conglomerate is a major participant in the global electronics market and has joined the VVC Advance pool as a licensor.
Sharp
A global electronics manufacturer known for display and mobile technology, Sharp has joined the VVC Advance pool as a licensor.
Meta
The parent company of major social media platforms, Meta joined the Video Distribution Patent Pool in 2026.
Alibaba
A large-scale Chinese multinational technology company, Alibaba joined the Video Distribution Patent Pool in 2026.
The details
Smartphone manufacturers are integrating hardware VVC support to prepare for new product releases, aided by the Multi-Codec Bridging Agreement which reduces costs for companies upgrading from HEVC. While Samsung and Sharp have joined as licensors, the pool structure is designed to ease the path for hardware adoption across the industry.
Timeline
Meta and Alibaba joined the Video Distribution Patent Pool in 2026.
Manufacturers anticipate launching products with hardware VVC support during the third and fourth quarters of 2026.
The Tech Race
This transition marks the next phase in the ongoing evolution of video codec standards, moving beyond the legacy of the HEVC video compression standard. By consolidating thousands of patents under a single pool, companies are positioning themselves to dominate the high-efficiency streaming era.
Users can expect future smartphones to feature improved hardware-level video processing capabilities for higher efficiency and better streaming performance. These developments help ensure that newer devices remain compatible with the latest video formats without incurring additional consumer hardware costs.
The takeaway
The move to unify patent licensing for VVC technology signals that hardware-level efficiency is becoming a priority for global smartphone manufacturers. Consumers will likely see the benefits through improved video playback performance and battery efficiency in upcoming smartphone releases.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Video Group.
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