From phm@a2e.de  Thu Nov 30 09:49:27 2000
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 10:49:27 +0100 (CET)
From: PILCH Hartmut phm@a2e.de
Subject: [Patents] MPeg patent enforcement

> > By the way, two companies are now trying to get fees from their patent on MPEG
> > algorithm. One is german, the second is french.
> 
> There is no such thing as a patented MPEG algorithm.
> Rather, some of the basic principles of psychoacoustics which are used in
> MP3 are patented.
> Likewise, there is no GIF patent.
> 
> > Does somebody know where these patents have been granted?
> 
> Via the EPO in most European countries.
> see http://www.mp3-licensing.com 

Also:

	http://www.mpegla.com

The tendency is clear:  gradually a lot of patents are bundled together
into patent consortia which professionally go after maximising the
profits.  Sooner or later they will pursue anyone who works against their
interest, if they are allowed to.  What is happening with the cluster of
mpeg-related patents today may happen with a cluster of memory management
related patents tomorrow.  In that case it will no longer be allowed for 
to program a free operating system.

-phm





