[M4IF Discuss] Re: [M4IF News] To those concerned about MPEG-4 Licensing ...

[richard mizer]

All I know is that in my working on an almost daily basis with the
Hollywood Studios on compression for Digital Cinema, MPEG-4 has "shot
itself in the foot" by the licensing terms that it has proposed.  A formal
statement went from SMPTE to MPEG, the contents of which can most easily be
summarized by the simple statement that "no compression algorithm that
includes usage based license fees will be considered for digital cinema".
Disclaimer:  These are my own words, and not a public SMPTE position, but I
believe I accurately reflect the user sentiment in the Digital Cinema
community who are members of SMPTE.
The studios consider encoder and decoder fees reasonable and
non-discriminatory, and with the price of Digital Cinema encoders and
decoders likely to be in the tens of thousands of dollars, particularly the
encoders, the digital cinema market could absorb very high one time
hardware licensing fees.
Chiariglione Leonardo wrote:
> >As everyone on this list knows, many concerns have been voiced over
> licensing of, notably, MPEG-4 Video.
>
> I am not voicing concern over the specific terms of the announced, but
> unconfirmed, MPEG-4 Video licensing. I am just reiterating what I said
> one year ago in San Jose at the M4IF meeting: if there is no way to get
> an MPEG-4 license, this is not fair and not reasonable (I do not know if
> it is discriminatory). Therefore such an ISO standard cannot be retained
> if normal people cannot get a license to use it.
> If the only answer for people wishing to use the standard, 3.5 years
> after it was approved, is that "the process is advancing" (thak you for
> informing us of this, we thought it was moving backwards) and that there
> are "hopes to have a further > > announcement in the near future" (thank
> you very much for your kind commitment), either we are dealing with too
> smart or too dull people. I, as the average subscriber to this list, am
> neither, but I know that, with such an attitude, there is no prospect to
> use the standard before the next ice age.
> One suggestion could be that the people working on MPEG-4 licensing
> reduce their engagements on the golf courses and turn a benevolent eye
> to such worldly matters as giving a chance to people who have believed
> in and supported a fair process, to be able to use its results. But,
> maybe, this is asking too much.
> Leonardo
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From:   Rob Koenen [mailto:rkoenen   intertrust.com]
> Sent:   2002 maggio 01 mercoledì 01:40
> To:     M4IF news (E-mail)
> Subject:        [M4IF News] To those concerned about MPEG-4 Licensing
> ...
>
> M4IF watchers,
>
> Coming Friday, May 3rd, M4IF is having a special meeting on MPEG-4
> licensing. This meeting will be attended by both potential licensees and
> licensors. No decisions on licensing will be taken (M4IF cannot do that)
> but the meeting will provide valuable input for the licensors to take
> into account.
> As everyone on this list knows, many concerns have been voiced over
> licensing of, notably, MPEG-4 Video.
> Many of these concerns have been brought to the awareness of the
> licensors, usually through MPEGLA. Unfortunately, not all concerned
> parties have made their opinions known. Some of you have just moved on
> to other technologies.  Because the licensors and MPEGLA *ARE*
> listening, it is crucial that your voices be heard.
> THIS IS perhaps YOUR LAST CHANCE to still voice concerns. If you want to
> use MPEG-4 technology, but have an issue with the structure of the
> license as it has been announced, then please let me know AS SOON AS
> POSSIBLE, but Thursday at the latest.
> Let me know on behalf of whom you are speaking and if your name can be
> used, or if you want to be 'anonimized'.
> I will bring all constructive input to the attention of the meeting,
> including the licensors and their representatives.
> Kind Regards,
>
> Rob Koenen
> President, M4IF
>
> ps: please do not reply to the list. A summary of all input will be
> provided, as well as a public report on the result of the meeting.
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