Via Licensing Alliance (Via LA) has announced the extension of its HEVC Program to include the VVC standard (also known as H.266 and MPEG-I Part 3).
The move brings together the two major video coding technologies into the same patent pool for the first time.
It also means TCL, one of the world’s best-selling consumer electronics brands becomes a licensor and licensee for the first time.
Last September, TCL joined Via LA’s ATSC 3.0 patent pool bringing 4K/UHD and interactive over-the-air TV broadcast standards into its televisions.
“We’re excited to continue building upon our relationship with Via LA through their newly formed HEVC/VVC patent pool. Contributing, sharing, and respecting innovations, TCL will incorporate the many innovations and core technologies the program offers into our world class TVs, and will also share these technologies openly with the industry to promote continuous innovation and development” said Victor Yang, vice president of TCL Technology Group. “Via LA’s patent pools not only offer access to essential patents but also tremendous value, and we’re looking forward to implementing these standards across our product suite to deliver the best viewing experience to our customers.”
“Via LA’s HEVC patent pool is thrilled to announce its extension into VVC, as well as welcome TCL — a company at the forefront of innovation across TVs, audio products, and mobile devices. Our collaboration provides greater opportunity in a rapidly growing field,” adds Heath Hoglund, President, Via Licensing Alliance. “VVC offers essential patent rights in the next phase in video coding technology and will complement our HEVC program as technology companies around the world look to enhance their consumer product offerings with the latest innovations.”
Versatile Video Coding (or VVC) offers around double the data compression ratio at the same level of video quality or notably higher video resolution at the same storage size. The technology will be essential to video streaming as technology improves, vastly improving the user viewing experience as well as the amount of storage that video technology requires.
