Exclusive: Dolby sues Lava in India over audio coding SEPs

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Exclusive: Dolby sues Lava in India over audio coding SEPs

Dolby.jpg

Dolby’s lawsuit at the Delhi High Court follows a record win by Ericsson earlier this year against the same defendant

Dolby has sued Indian smartphone maker Lava at the Delhi High Court for allegedly infringing its advanced audio coding standard-essential patents, Managing IP can reveal.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, April 29, comes shortly after another patent innovator, Ericsson, secured record SEP damages of ₹244 crores ($29 million) in March against Lava. However, that lawsuit centred on Ericsson’s telecom patents.

In its pleadings, Dolby accused Lava of infringing eight patents covering its advanced audio coding (AAC) SEPs. Dolby licenses the SEPs bilaterally as well as through patent pool operator Via LA Licensing.

Five of those patents expired during its licensing negotiations with Lava, but Dolby claimed that it is still entitled to relief based on past profits made by Lava.

Implementers that have already taken licences from Dolby for its AAC technology include Oppo, Vivo and Reliance.

Both Dolby and Lava have been in licensing discussions for six years but haven't been able to agree on terms.

Separately, Lava has been in touch with Via LA Licensing to secure a licence for the pool’s AAC patents.

In its lawsuit, Dolby has asked the court to secure its interests by ordering Lava to make an interim security deposit or face an interim injunction.

The matter was listed for the first hearing yesterday, May 1. Lava said in a statement before the court that it wanted to resolve the case amicably.

The case will be next heard on May 20. Singh & Singh is representing Dolby.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Paul Hastings and Smart & Biggar also won multiple awards, while Baker McKenzie picked up a significant prize
Burford Capital study finds that in-house lawyers have become more likely to monetise patents, but that their IP portfolios are still underutilised
Robert Reading and Faidon Zisis at Clarivate unpick some of the data surrounding music-related trademarks
China's latest IP litigation statistics and a high-profile hire by O'Melveny were also among the top talking points this week
David Aylen, who spent more than 20 years at Gowling WLG, has joined United Trademark and Patent Services as of counsel in the UAE
Europe is among the most lucrative legal markets for PE firms to bet on, but clients’ reactions will decide whether external investment drives success
Rulings of note covered pre-June 2023 infringements and jurisdiction over non-UPC states, while winners of Managing IP’s EMEA Awards acted in multiple cases
Jason Blair, a former special marks examiner, said Dykema’s Texas presence will help him build deeper connections with clients
Lee Curtis and Rachel Platts at HGF discuss the rise of the ‘intention economy’ and its impact on trademark law
Martin Wintermeier discusses taking a hit for clients, not letting stress get to you, and why being a criminal defence lawyer might have been fun
Gift this article