Meta takes VDP license, testing Big Tech's AV1 'royalty-free' model
By Steve Scherer ( July 15, 2026, 20:49 GMT | Comment) -- Meta Platforms' decision to license patents covering the AV1 video codec could reshape the debate over whether the technology is genuinely royalty-free and lend support to the long-established framework for licensing standard-essential patents on fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms, industry experts said.Meta Platforms' decision to join a patent pool covering the AV1 video codec at the end of June could mark a turning point in the long-running battle over whether one of the world's fastest-growing video standards is truly "royalty free," potentially favoring the decades-old licensing model for standard-essential patents, industry experts said....
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