[Ffmpeg-devel] Legal questions...

[Michel Bardiaux]

Ronen Mizrahi wrote:
> It does answer questions about mp3, 

Not really. It kinds of imply they have patent(s) on some forms of audio 
encoding, but finding *exactly* what is patented in MP3 would probably 
cost more in time than the cost of licenses. Which is probably deliberate.

> but what about MPEG-1 container, 
> MPEG-1 video and MPEG-1 audio level II audio? Are the patents expired 
> for these formats/codecs?
> 
> Benjamin Larsson wrote:
> 
>> Michel Bardiaux wrote:
>>
>>  
>>
>>> Ronald S. Bultje wrote:
>>>
>>>   
>>>
>>>> [...]
>>>>
>>>> No. European companies in European countries also pay royalties. We may
>>>> not have official software patents in Europe, most of the countries
>>>> still have them at a national level one way or another (sad but true).
>>>>
>>>> Better get used to it: MPEG *is* owned by companies. You *do* owe them
>>>> royalties, through MPEG-LA. If you don't want that, don't use MPEG.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> Ronald
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>
>>> MPEG-LA does not mention anything regarding MPEG-1, not even MPEG-1
>>> audio/level-III, a.k.a. mp3. What's the patent situation on these?
>>>
>>>   
>>
>> http://www.mp3licensing.com should answer that question.
>>
>> MvH
>> Benjamin Larsson
>>


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