Access Advance defends video patent pool rates against Snap’s RAND challenge

Context: Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, and its UK subsidiary are challenging the licensing terms of Access Advance’s Video Distribution Pool (VDP) before the High Court of England and Wales. The proceedings follow a broader patent dispute with Dolby, which began with infringement actions in the US and Brazil in March 2026 concerning HEVC and AV1 video compression technologies (March 24, 2026 ip fray article). Dolby subsequently expanded its enforcement campaign with additional Brazilian proceedings and amended US pleadings in June (June 10, 2026 ip fray article). Snap opened a new front on July 10, 2026, suing Dolby and Access Advance in the UK over the pool’s royalty structure and compliance with reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) licensing commitments, alongside allegations of abuse of a dominant position under UK competition law.

What’s new: Access Advance has rejected Snap’s claims, arguing that it is not independently bound by RAND commitments, that its existing pool licensing terms are RAND, and that it has not abused a dominant market position. The High Court has scheduled a RAND trial for a listing window beginning November 1, 2027.

Direct impact: Snap’s attempt to obtain alternative pool licensing terms remains contested, while Access Advance faces continued litigation over its royalty structure and alleged competition law violations. The parties must now define the scope of the upcoming trial, with unresolved issues to be settled by the High Court at a November 2026 case management conference.

Wider ramifications: The proceedings could further test the reach of UK judicial intervention in international SEP licensing disputes, particularly where a claimant seeks a determination affecting a global, multi-party licensing arrangement. The outcome could clarify how individual RAND commitments interact with patent pool licensing arrangements and the limits of judicial authority over their terms.