MP3 'capable' [was: Meida player.]

Wolfgang Spraul wolfgang at qi-hardware.com
Fri Sep 11 02:58:29 CEST 2009


Joachim,

> "Additionally, patent holders declined to enforce license fees on free
> and open source decoders, which allows many free MP3 decoders to
> develop.[42] Thus, while patent fees have been an issue for companies
> that attempt to use MP3, they have not meaningfully impacted users,
> which allows the format to grow in popularity."

Yeah it's a trap.

Wolfgang

On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 09:10:17PM +0200, Joachim Ott wrote:
> 2009/9/10 Al Johnson <openmoko at mazikeen.demon.co.uk>:
> > On Thursday 10 September 2009, rakshat hooja wrote:
> >> On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 8:20 AM, Wolfgang Spraul <wolfgang at qi-
> > hardware.com>wrote:
> >> > Rakshat,
> >> >
> >> > > >  Actually Mplayer plays the MP3 with the user installed plugin
> >> > > > (libmad
> >> >
> >> > or
> >> >
> >> > > eqvalent). Intone is just the frontend for Mplayer so no patent probs
> >> >
> >> > with
> >> >
> >> > > it
> >> >
> >> > Yes but we have to be careful that MP3 doesn't 'sneak in' somewhere.
> >> > The moment anybody is selling a FreeRunner 'capable' of playing MP3, the
> >> > patent guys have a case. 'Capable' can be a series of steps, including
> >> > installing some software, etc.
> >> > However, the moment those steps involve a resource out of control of the
> >> > seller of the FreeRunner (say a random Internet URL), they have no case.
> >> >
> >> > Now with the vast pool of free software, what can easily happen is that
> >> > MP3,
> >> > MP4 etc. 'sneaks into' the product. Then someone downstream forgets that
> >> > it's
> >> > there, or it's very hard to remove, and falls into the trap.
> >>
> >> Yes I did follow the Openmoko Mp3 patent issues a long while back.
> >>
> >>  I just wanted to ask you if things are ok re MP3 patents in the following
> >> scenario
> >>
> >> We sell a device with no 'working' MP3 capablities but a preinstalled Music
> >> player. The music player can take plugins and its website visibly
> >> recommends downloading a plugin that enables MP3. Is the seller ok in this
> >> situation re MP3 patents?
> >
> > That will depend on your local patent laws and, perhaps more importantly,
> > whether you can afford to prove you're right. You'll have to ask a local
> > patent lawyer about that. I doubt anyone on this list is qualified to give you
> > an answer, so don't rely on anything you see here.
> 
> From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3#Licensing_and_patent_issues
> 
> "Additionally, patent holders declined to enforce license fees on free
> and open source decoders, which allows many free MP3 decoders to
> develop.[42] Thus, while patent fees have been an issue for companies
> that attempt to use MP3, they have not meaningfully impacted users,
> which allows the format to grow in popularity."
> 
> hth
> 
> _______________________________________________
> support mailing list
> support at lists.openmoko.org
> https://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/support



More information about the support mailing list