[LINK] Fwd: vip-l: Fwd: Article: Judges Reject Appeals From Webcasters

Marghanita da Cruz marghanita at ramin.com.au
Thu Apr 19 18:36:09 AEST 2007


Rick Welykochy wrote:
> Marghanita da Cruz wrote:
> 
>> For my part, I am still trying to work out what the license 
>> arrangements are on decoding MPEG2 used in Digial Broadcasting.
>> <http://www.mpegla.com/dvb/>
> 
> 
> A royalty structure is in place:
> 
> http://www.mpegla.com/m2/m2-agreement.cfm
> 
> e.g. ...
> 
> "(1) For MPEG-2 decoding products in hardware or software (such as those
>      found in set-top boxes, DVD players and computers equipped with MPEG-2
>      decode units), the royalty is US $2.50 from January 1, 2002 and
>      $4.00/unit before January 1, 2002."

....which would indicate a problem for open source software decoders.

> 
> Thanks for the reference, Jan. Tortuous reading, though!
> 
> "Each patent in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio is essential for implementing
>     the main profile of the MPEG-2 Video (excluding scaleable extensions)
>     and Systems standard specifications: ISO/IEC IS 13818-1 Information
>     Technology - Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio
>     Information including annexes C, D, F, J, and K; ISO/IEC IS 13818-2
>     including annexes A, B, C, D but excluding scaleable extensions; and
>     IS 13818-4 but only as it is needed to clarify IS 13818-2 ..."
> 
> And I thought legislation was gabble.
> 
> Imagine how different things would have been for DVT if an open video
> encoding standard had been proposed from the onset, one unencumbered with
> patents.
> 
> I know there are open audi standrads, but are there any open video 
> standards?

see
<http://www.xiph.org/about/>
and
<http://www.theora.org/>

m
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au/
Telephone: 0414-869202







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