Walt Disney Co. and nine of its subsidiaries are facing a lawsuit over alleged patent infringement related to streaming video technology. Tagivan II LLC filed a complaint on Tuesday, accusing Disney of willfully violating four patents (Nos. 8,781,001, 10,334,280, 11,570,469, and 10,992,953) that cover methods for providing high-quality video streaming. The patents in question are owned by Tagivan II LLC, which claims Disney incorporated the protected video coding technology into its products without proper authorization.
The lawsuit alleges that Disney was offered a license to use the patented technology through Access Advance’s licensing program beginning in 2024. However, according to the complaint, Disney did not make an offer or provide a counterproposal to the licensing terms. The case has been filed in the US District Court for the District of Delaware, where Tagivan II LLC is seeking damages for the alleged infringement.
The complaint highlights the importance of the patents, which are designed to enhance video quality for online streaming platforms. The lawsuit could have significant implications for Disney’s streaming services, including its popular platforms like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. The outcome of the case may also set a precedent for how streaming technology patents are handled in the future.