[M4IF Discuss] hourly usage fee for MPEG4

[Jeff Handy]

> For MPEG-4 to succeed in any given market, both Ben's and 
> Ken's questions need 
> a 'yes' answer for that market.

Addressed to the MPEG-LA in particular.
Very true.  And the claim that the licensors want license fees to be
"shared fairly by a variety of industry participants" sounds like
hogwash to me.  If costs are being shared fairly, they are being shared
evenly.  How can you share the costs evenly when the brunt of the costs
are obviously skewed toward distribution only?
I still don't get it.  License issues were enough of a hassle with
MPEG-2.  Why not adopt the same scheme?  That seems to be the most
honest approach to date.  We know it works well with little room for
corruption.
"X" is what you pay no questions asked.  No budgetary problems, no
monitoring or measuring problems.  It would all be much simpler FOR the
industry.  Sharing fairly is just that.  It's not right to punish the
distribution sector just to subsidize the costs of technology use.  The
costs of distribution are already incredibly high.
If the aim really is to get wide adoption of the standard; then let's
freakin' do it!  I can't be the only one tired of all the waffling.  We
want to get on with the business of making cutting-edge content based on
this standard.  So, tell the licensors to get off their duffs and bang
out a license agreement that will allow them to roll this thing out
pronto.  The sooner they finalize a suitable agreement, the sooner
they'll start getting paid.  This is hardly the economic climate for
hesitation.
All, IMO of course.(which seems to be an overwhelming consensus.
Jeff Handy