>From: Steve Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >DTS OTOH is patented, but I've a feeling the the line format is just the >2 stereo channels plus Sr, Sl and LFE, uncompressed on the data channels, >so its hard to imagine that thats covered by the patents.
Maybe they could give a permission for free encoder software because the streams are going to be played through commercial amplifier (lisence paid) and because encoding lisence could be paid only if the product goes to commercial market. What is left is that people could make surround sound for their own fun or use it in student works, for example. But if a step to commercial business (DVD, exhibitions etc.) is made, they have to pay lisence. Of course, DTS company would set the final rules. Would this be worth of asking? I guess that free DTS encoder would make DTS more popular. It is like the student lisences of various commercial software such as Alias/Wavefront, Softimage, etc. It would be an easy step to use DTS commercially because only the product lisence should be paid, not any extra hardware costs (such as of Dolby encoders). Is the MPEG 5.1 surround patent free? We could use it if no other system is available in commercial amplifiers besides those three. In extreme, people would have to design a new free surround format and offer the decoder to amplifier manufacturers. Best regards, Juhana
