In February 2026, surprises technology users in Germany as they try to grasp the full extent of their company's potential sales opportunities and their business strategies. Well‑known computer makers Acer and ASUS have been compelled to discontinue sales of their laptops and desktop PCs in the country. A German court ruled in favor of Nokia in a patent case, leading to this decision. The ban has also sent customers into limbo and cast doubt on how legal fights can impact routine technology.
It is a dispute to do with the HEVC (H.265) video codec, which has been popular for compacting video files in streaming, broadcasting, and multimedia devices. Acer and ASUS, Nokia said, had violated three of its patents for this codec. On January 22nd, 2026, the Munich Regional Court, in the resolution of Nokia’s case, ruled in favor of Nokia, granting its injunction.
The ruling bars Acer and ASUS from selling, importing, marketing or even storing affected PCs in Germany. Thereafter, Acer’s German website went down and showed an apology to customers. ASUS listed all its laptops and desktops as “out of stock” in its online store, but also sells accessories and other hardware. That said, retailers in Germany are still permitted to sell existing stock, but new imports are prohibited. This indicates that customers will find Acer and ASUS devices for a while, but they will quickly disappear in product availability.
Germany is one of Europe’s largest PC markets so Acer and ASUS are well-liked within it for students, professionals, gamers. The ban could drive buyers toward competitors like HP, Dell, or Lenovo. However, for consumers, especially those of Nokia, it's another illustration of patent litigation that will go much further in terms of consumer impact and not limited to corporate patent protection and that patent disputes for example can affect customers directly, not just corporations to some extent. For Nokia, the case just re-emphasizes its position as a key market leader in multimedia technology. It is a reminder for Acer and ASUS that licensing agreements are of utmost importance.
Acer and ASUS are both expected to explore other legal options for challenging or negotiating a settlement to resolve the injunction with Nokia. Until that’s announced, their direct sales in Germany are suspended. Experts in the industry think the companies will do everything in their power to get the problem solved as their long-term absence from the German market could damage their reputation, as well as their sales in the rest of Europe.
The Acer and ASUS sales ban in Germany proves that technology (and thus laws) go hand in hand in a very strong way. A video compression patent row has created a huge shock to the PC industry. Customers patiently want a bit greater clarity on why this happens and why it matters in this case, one that also reminds us that behind every device we use are intricate treaties of rights and what happens once it’s released.
