Folks, the following questions may seem a tad symplistic but I am a curious
fellow:
[Q]. I thought the 8Hz encoder was based on ISO reference source?
[Q]. If the above is true, why would the ISO MPEG crowed release source
that was subject to patent? I thought all the open stuff was ment to be in
the public domain?
A follow on question would be, can the ISO adopt and promote a standard
based on a patented format?
Anthony
At 05:53 PM 9/9/98 +0200, you wrote:
>Hello all,
>This is a letter from IIS I got today (I was also shipping a modified
>version of the 8 Hz converter). I did the same thing as the 8Hz guys and
>removed the executables.
>
>Albert Faber
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Martin Sieler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Cc: Henri Linde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: Tuesday, September 08, 1998 6:26 PM
>Subject: MPEG Layer-3 - Possible infringement of our patents
>
>
>Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
>
>As you may know, both the Fraunhofer Institute and THOMSON
>have done important work to develop MPEG Layer-3 audio
>compression (before and after it became part of the MPEG
>standards). This work has resulted in many inventions and several
>patents, covering the MPEG Layer-3 standard.
>
>From your publications and your web-site we learn that you
>distribute and/or sell decoders and/or encoders that use the MPEG
>Layer-3 standard.
>
>Our files do not show that you have a valid license agreement with
>us. This means that the products infringe the patent rights of
>Fraunhofer and THOMSON.
>
>To make, sell and/or distribute products using the standard and
>thus our patents, you need to obtain a license under these patents
>from us.
>
>In the past, we have licensed several companies under different
>models for different products, e.g.:
>- Software encoder licenses against a per unit royalty starting
> at $ 25,00 and decreasing for high volumes; and
>- Pay-audio licenses against a royalty of $ 0,01 per song or
> 1 % of the selling price.
>
>At least the Software encoder license seems to apply to your
>products and we would appreciate if you could send us some more
>details about your activities, in order to discuss what would be the
>right royalty structure for your company.
>
>In view of the above, we urge you to contact Henri Linde
>(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) and Martin Sieler
>(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) in order to start the discussion of the license
>or licenses needed.
>
>We look forward to hearing from you soon.
>
>Best regards,
>- Martin
>
>
>---
>Martin Sieler
>Fraunhofer IIS-A, Audio & Multimedia
>email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>phone: +49 9131 776-610
>fax: +49 9131 776-699
>www: http://www.iis.fhg.de/amm/
>
>
>
