At the heart of this proprietary video compression technique lies a codec called REDCODE (with a file format shortened as R3D), which allows for lossless RAW video recording at up to 8K resolution. This proprietary technology allows videos shot on RED cameras to be much smaller in size without dramatically reducing the quality, allowing filmmakers and professional videographers to shoot for much longer without stopping.
For years, RED has claimed the patent for compressing RAW videos with a resolution of 4K and higher. This became the basis for a lawsuit that RED filed against Nikon in May 2022, in which it claimed the latter was infringing upon seven patents detailing how a camera compresses video efficiently and losslessly. The claim mainly applied to how Nikon’s premier camera, the Z9 — which has also been to the International Space Station and is now headed for the moon as part of NASA’s upcoming “Artemis II” lunar mission — processes RAW videos shot in 4K and 8K resolutions. However, the lawsuit was resolved mutually less than a year later.
Notably, Apple had previously sued RED for claiming patent ownership over 4K RAW compression, claiming the technology was not novel and, therefore, unpatentable. Unlike Nikon, Apple did not succeed and was ordered to pay royalties to the camera company for its similar ProRes video format.
Nikon and RED declined to share financial details of the deal but said the former will retain the company’s 200+ employees.
