The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has intervened in a Delaware federal court to advocate for the protection of InterDigital’s patent rights amid Disney’s antitrust allegations concerning video streaming technology. This move underscores the DOJ’s commitment to balancing antitrust enforcement with the safeguarding of intellectual property rights.
InterDigital, a company specializing in wireless, video, and AI technologies, initiated legal action against The Walt Disney Company in February 2025. The litigation targets Disney’s streaming platforms—Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+—accusing them of infringing on InterDigital’s patents related to video coding technologies. The lawsuits were filed across multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, Brazil, Germany, and the Unified Patent Court. ([ir.interdigital.com](https://ir.interdigital.com/news-events/press-releases/news-details/2025/InterDigital-enforces-patents-against-Disney/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
In September 2025, the 7th Corporate Court of the Judicial District of the Capital of Rio de Janeiro granted InterDigital a preliminary injunction against Disney. The court determined that Disney had infringed upon two of InterDigital’s patents concerning Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) technologies. An independent expert report commissioned by the court supported InterDigital’s claims and concluded that the company was not obligated to license these patents on a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) basis. ([ir.interdigital.com](https://ir.interdigital.com/news-events/press-releases/news-details/2025/InterDigital-awarded-injunction-against-Disney/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
InterDigital’s Chief Legal Officer, Josh Schmidt, emphasized the significance of this ruling, stating that the company’s technology is fundamental to the streaming industry’s success and that the decision is a crucial step toward obtaining fair compensation for their innovations. ([ir.interdigital.com](https://ir.interdigital.com/news-events/press-releases/news-details/2025/InterDigital-awarded-injunction-against-Disney/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
In response to Disney’s antitrust claims, the DOJ’s recent filing urges the Delaware federal court to consider the importance of patent rights when evaluating the case. The DOJ’s position highlights the necessity of ensuring that antitrust enforcement does not undermine the legitimate rights of patent holders, particularly in industries heavily reliant on technological innovation.
This development reflects the ongoing tension between antitrust regulations and intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving digital streaming sector. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how patent rights are upheld in the face of antitrust allegations within the technology industry.