Earlier this year Munich’s Regional Court barred ASUS and Acer from selling laptops in Germany after Nokia asserted patents covering core HEVC/H.265 encoding and decoding. The ruling forced both OEMs to halt shipments because their GPUs and processors rely on licensed video‑codec technology. Judges found the companies had not complied with FRAND licensing obligations, granting injunctive relief instead of monetary damages.

At a Hamburg conference Acer told partners it will resume shipping the disputed notebooks, offering units both with and without a pre‑installed HEVC codec. Customers can enable support by installing software from official third‑party channels, a workaround that sidesteps the court’s restriction. Acer did not disclose which models will carry the codec or the timeline for broader availability.

Meanwhile ASUS reached a settlement with Nokia that ends all pending litigation, clearing the path for unrestricted laptop sales across Germany. The resolution removes a rare legal barrier for PC makers in Europe’s largest economy and restores supply chains that were stalled months ago. Consumers can now purchase new ASUS notebooks without fearing codec‑related compliance issues. Retailers report inventory levels are climbing as shipments resume.