Disney Sued Over Patent Infringement on Hulu, Disney+, ESPN Video Tech
Tagivan II LLC sued Disney for patent infringement on streaming video coding tech.
Why it matters: This case highlights intellectual property risks for media companies using advanced video tech without licenses. Legal teams must watch licensing and compliance closely amid rising patent disputes in digital streaming.
- Tagivan II LLC filed the lawsuit on October 28, 2026, alleging infringement of four U.S. patents related to video coding technology.
- Patents involved are U.S. Nos. 8,781,001; 10,334,280; 11,570,469; and 10,992,953, covering high-quality video methods.
- Disney and Tagivan began licensing talks in 2024 but failed to reach an agreement, leading to alleged unauthorized use.
- Tagivan claims infringement has lasted up to six years and seeks damages determined at trial.
On October 28, 2026, Tagivan II LLC initiated a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries for infringing four U.S. patents related to video coding technology used across Disney’s streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN. The patents, numbered 8,781,001; 10,334,280; 11,570,469; and 10,992,953, cover specialized methods to deliver high-quality video to users.[Courthouse News]
Tagivan alleges that Disney started licensing negotiations in 2024 but ultimately failed to agree, resulting in unauthorized use of the patented technology for up to six years. The plaintiff seeks both actual and enhanced damages, to be determined at trial. Tagivan stated, "Disney relies on Tagivan’s innovations to efficiently deliver high-quality video to users throughout the United States and the world," and criticized Disney for obtaining an unfair competitive advantage without compensating them.[Bloomberg Law]
This case follows a series of patent infringement actions against Disney from InterDigital, another technology company, highlighting ongoing legal challenges in the video streaming space. Earlier rulings in 2025 and 2026 by European courts enforced injunctions against Disney for infringing video coding patents across multiple EU countries, notably related to HEVC and HDR technologies. InterDigital’s claims have also escalated to seek over €101 million in damages.[InterDigital] [Juve Patent]
These ongoing disputes underscore the complexity and importance of securing clear licensing agreements for advanced video technologies amid fierce competition in the digital streaming industry.
By the numbers:
- 4 patents allegedly infringed by Disney — U.S. Patent Nos. 8,781,001; 10,334,280; 11,570,469; 10,992,953
- 6 years — alleged duration of infringement by Disney
- €101.7 million — damages sought by InterDigital against Disney in European patent case