InterDigital secures third UPC injunction against Disney
September 4, 2026 11.12 Europe/London By Julian Clover


InterDigital has won a third injunction against Disney from the Unified Patent Court (UPC), in its ongoing patent dispute over streaming video technologies.

The Düsseldorf Local Division of the UPC ruled that Disney infringed an InterDigital patent covering technology that enables seamless viewing when video content is shared between different devices. The court also upheld the validity of the patent and granted an injunction covering Germany and the Netherlands. Disney has the right to appeal.

The latest ruling follows two earlier UPC injunctions obtained by InterDigital, both involving patents related to High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) video compression technology.

Following the rulings Disney removed 4K UHD and HDR streaming in several European markets.

Outside the UPC, InterDigital has also secured injunctions against Disney from courts in Germany and Brazil, covering patents relating to high dynamic range (HDR) technology, dynamic overlay of multiple video streams, and additional HEVC and Advanced Video Coding (AVC) encoding technologies.

The decision adds to a growing series of legal victories for InterDigital as it seeks licensing agreements for its video technology portfolio from streaming platforms and media companies.

Josh Schmidt, Chief Legal Officer at InterDigital, said: “This patent-in-suit is another excellent example of how InterDigital shapes so much of the streaming experience from the processing and distribution of video content to the overall user experience. InterDigital research powers a broad sweep of the streaming industry and by receiving a fair return for Disney’s use of our technologies, we will be able to continue to invest in the next generation of foundational technologies.”

The Unified Patent Court, which began operating in 2023, provides a single venue for patent litigation across participating EU member states, allowing successful rights holders to obtain cross-border injunctions through a single judgment rather than pursuing separate national actions.

InterDigital has been one of the most active companies using the UPC to enforce its video technology patents.