[M4IF Discuss] Article

[Rob Koenen]

Hi Damien,
I just read your article on MPEG-4 licenses - very interesting.
A few facts in the very opening do, however, create potential
misunderstanding that will significantly confuse the issue:
"On Jan. 31, the agency charged with licensing MPEG-4, a standard for
digital audio and video compression, announced a series of new fees."
   MPEGLA is _not_ charged with licensing by anyone, except by
   the licensors themselves that seek to operate through a single
   outlet. Their license is always non-exclusive
"More controversially, the alliance of companies pushing the MPEG-4 standard
also proposed a "use fee" 
  the real alliance of companies pusing MPEG-4 is not MPEGLA but M4IF, 
  which has _not_ proposed the use fee. 
 more likely 
    MPEG-4 was _not_ cooked up by MPEGLA or the licensors,
    but by MPEG, an ISO standards grouip (the Moving Picture Experts Group)
    Many more than the 18 licensors took part. 
    see http://mpeg.telecomitalialab.com
a 2 cents an hour charge that either users or manufacturers of the software
would have to come up with. 
  3) User will _not_ be charged under the proposed scheme
Best,
Rob
Rob Koenen
Senior Director of Technology Initiatives
InterTrust Technologies Corporation
tel 	+1 (408) 855 6891
gsm	+1 (408) 823 7512
fax 	+1 (408) 855 0250
4750 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
USA
rob   intertrust.com
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