Several patent holders, member of the MPEG LA body looking after MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio licenses, have filed separate enforcement actions in Düsseldorf, Germany, against branches of discounter supermarket chains Aldi and Lidl for “infringing patents essential to the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard used worldwide in digital television broadcasting and DVD.”

According to the complaints, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd offer in Germany products such as desktop computers, laptop computers, set-top boxes, DVD players, Blu-ray Disc players and digital televisions, some under Aldi Süd’s own Tevion house brand name, that use patent protected MPEG-2 methods without license.

The complaints also allege that Lidl offers laptop computers, set-top boxes, DVD players and digital televisions, some under Lidl’s own Silvercrest house brand, without MPEG-2 license.

The suit seeks, among other things, monetary damages and injunctions prohibiting Aldi and Lidl using MPEG-2 patents in their products and from offering, marketing, or importing them.

“We expect all retailers that sell MPEG-2 products under their own private brand labels to meet their patent licensing obligations just as other branded product suppliers do, and our MPEG-2 License is available to assist them,” said MPEG LA President and CEO Larry Horn. “In addition, we urge retailers to insist that all branded product suppliers doing business with them also meet their patent licensing obligations as most already do, and our MPEG-2 License is available to assist them as well.”

Story filed 08.04.10