[M4IF News] M4IF Press Release: M4IF Opens Debate on MPEG-4 Licensing

[Rob Koenen]

The following was released on the Business Wire today:
http://www.m4if.org/public/documents/vault/m4-out-20014.php
Best Regards,
Rob
M4IF Opens Debate on MPEG-4 Licensing
Industry forum welcomes MPEG-LA announcement on licensing terms, urges
discussion on the details. 
San Ramon, 4 February 2024 - The MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF) today welcomed
the January 31 announcement by MPEG-LA of a licensing program for the Visual
part of the MPEG-4 multimedia coding standard. M4IF also announced
initiating an open industry discussion on the licensing terms and other
issues that affect the uptake of MPEG-4. 
"M4IF is very happy to finally see license holders announcing a license
program", said Rob Koenen, President of M4IF. "This is hard evidence that
MPEG-4 is gathering momentum. It is great that 18 companies have reached
this long-awaited consensus." 
There is concern among M4IF members over whether the terms are practical for
the whole variety of markets adopting MPEG-4. M4IF received many reactions
to the licensing program, ranging from 'this sounds reasonable' to 'this
will never work', depending on the envisaged application area. 
M4IF believes that the terms presented in the MPEG-LA press release need
further clarification and discussion. Those details will determine whether
the program adequately supports existing services such as mobile use,
broadcasting, media distribution and Internet streaming, as well as
radically new MPEG-4 services. 
M4IF encourages licensors and their representatives to engage in the
discussion with the rest of the MPEG-4 community. "I am confident that
licensors, many of them M4IF members, are ready to listen to the arguments
before the licensing details are finalized", said Koenen. "This benefits
all. Both licensors and licensees want MPEG-4 to succeed, and thus both
require reasonable licensing in all markets." 
The open discussion list is at discuss   lists.m4if.org
<mailto:discuss   lists.m4if.org>. Anyone can subscribe at
<http://www.m4if.org/public/publiclistreg.html>. 
About MPEG-4 
MPEG-4 is the interactive coding standard for all digital multimedia
platforms. Developed by the "Moving Picture Experts Group" that designed
MPEG-2 (the digital television standard), MPEG-1 and MP3. Being object-based
and extending beyond video and audio, MPEG-4 supports rich, interactive,
standards-based multimedia from low bandwidths to transparent quality. 
About M4IF 
M4IF is represents more than 100 companies from diverse industries evenly
distributed across North America, Europe and Asia, addressing MPEG-4
adoption issues that go beyond the charter of ISO/IEC MPEG.
Activities of the forum include an interoperability program, certification,
several working groups, access to ISO/MPEG committee members, and an annual
conference (WEMP-4). For more information visit: <http://www.m4if.org> 
Press Contact:
Rob Koenen, President M4IF
+1 408 823 7512
rob.koenen   m4if.org <mailto:rob.koenen   m4if.org>