VoiceAgeEVS LLC has for some time been regularly suing other companies over the unauthorized use of the patent on Enhanced Voice Services, a special codec designed specifically for VoLTE function. In 2020, VAEVS has already sued companies such as Apple, Lenovo or TCL in this case. Now is the time for HMD Global, which is responsible for the development of Nokia smartphones. According to the decision of the German court, due to the unauthorized use of the VAEVS' patent, HMD has to withdraw most of its smartphones from this market, except for the two latest models, i.e. Nokia G21 and Nokia G11. HMD, however, does not give up and lodges an appeal.
According to HMD, the patenting of the EVS codec violates the FRAND rules, which are fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory market conditions. The company has therefore appealed against the court's decision and has not withdrawn its smartphones from the German market yet. So far, there has only been a modification to the VoLTE function in phones, which from now on does not use the EVS codec in older Nokia smartphones.