MPEG Industry Forum

MPEGIF is an independent and platform neutral not-for-profit organisation facilitating and furthering the widespread adoption and deployment of MPEG and related standards in next generation digital media services. It provides a forum to exchange information and views on technological, economic and regulatory issues that are relevant to these services. It also provides a powerful industry voice advocating the adoption of standards and consolidating the direction of the industry in the time of transition from analogue to digital television and media services. Its focus and constituency is derived from cable, satellite, telecommunication and new media service operators, channel owners, content providers, broadcasters, equipment manufacturers, system integrators, software providers, as well as industry advocacy groups, industry analysts, financial institutions and academic institutes.

What does MPEGIF do?

The activities of MPEGIF generally start where MPEG stops.

The following is a non-exhaustive excerpt from MPEGIF's Statutes about the way of operation:

The purpose of MPEGIF shall be pursued by: promoting MPEG standards, making available information on MPEG standards, making available MPEG tools or giving information on where to obtain these, creating a single point for information about MPEG standards, creating industrial focus around the usage of MPEG standards.
The goals are realized through the open international collaboration of all interested parties, on reasonable terms applied uniformly and openly. MPEGIF will contribute the results of its activities to appropriate formal standards bodies if applicable.
The business of MPEGIF shall not be conducted for the financial profits of its Members but for their mutual benefits.
Any corporation and individual firm, partnership, governmental body or international organization supporting the purpose of MPEGIF may apply for Membership.
Members are not bound to implement or use specific technology standards, or recommendations by virtue of participation in MPEGIF.
There are two kinds of Membership: Full and Associate. Associate membership is open to all not-for-profit organizations (including, but not limited to, governmental organizations and educational institutions). Except for the right to vote in General Assemblies, Associate Members have the same rights as Full members and they can participate in all activities.

How does MPEGIF operate?

Technology & Engineering
The Technology & Engineering Working Group facilitates a dialogue on new and emerging standards across the industry amongst researchers, engineers and developers from member companies and partners supported by administered and moderated email discussion lists.
Interoperability & Compliance
The Interoperability & Compliance Working Group provides a framework to verify compliance with industry standards and interoperability between equipment. This Working Group also administers the MPEGIF Logo Qualification Program to promote recognition of MPEG-compliant products in the marketplace. It is also responsible to coordinate industry liaisons with complementary qualification, certification and testing programs offered by other industry bodies or associations.
Marketing & Communication
The Marketing & Communication Working Group facilitates outreach to new members and the industry at large to impart the agreed messaging from all MPEGIF Working Groups. This Working Group also produces the MPEGIF Master Class Series, which encourages education, information exchange and dialog outside of the membership. It is also responsible for Industry Newsletters that promulgate latest relevant information supporting the charter of the forum as well as online and print information resources for the industry to facilitate wider understanding on the development and deployment of standards based technology as well as to promote products and services of members and partners.
The following topics are specific areas of focus for the MPEG Industry Forum throughout 2009 and 2010. New, additional work items are added as and when required.
MPEG-4/Scalable Video Coding (SVC)
3DTV
Addressable Advertising: extension and adoption of cable Labs SCTE -104 for all multimedia
Simplifying competitive licensing
Quality of Experience / Quality of Service metrics
Royalty free DRM initiatives
Online Video / Internet Streaming
IPTV ecosystem
Ultra HD (7680x4320)
MPEG/High-Performance Video Coding (HVC, H.265)
MPEG-7 / MPEG-21