The Last MPEG-4 Visual Patent Has Expired - Phoronix

What the report says

Phoronix reports that the final known patent tied to MPEG-4 Part 2, also known as MPEG-4 Visual, expired on 19 July 2026. According to the article by Michael Larabel, patent restrictions in the United States and European Union had already ended in recent years, but one remaining patent in Brazil was still active until this date.

The patent identified by Phoronix is BRPI0109962B1, described in the filing as covering a process for storing and processing image information from a sequence of images over time. Phoronix says VIA Licensing Alliance confirmed that this Brazilian patent was the last remaining MPEG-4 Visual patent in its pool and that it expired on 19 July 2026.

The development matters because MPEG-4 Visual has been widely used in digital video history, including in formats and software ecosystems associated with internet video, portable media devices and legacy video encoding. Patent expiration can reduce legal and licensing uncertainty for implementers, distributors and open-source projects, although practical effects may vary depending on jurisdiction, product use and whether any unrelated intellectual property applies.

Phoronix framed the expiration as a notable milestone for multimedia technology, given MPEG-4’s long presence in video workflows. Broader context: MPEG-4 Part 2 is distinct from newer and more common standards such as H.264/AVC or HEVC, which have separate patent landscapes and licensing considerations.