M4IF Welcomes MPEG-4 Visual and Systems Licensing

The MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF) welcomed the announcement by MPEGLA on behalf of over 20 patent holders, noting that the viability ofthe license needs to be proven in the market.

The usage fee concerns have been substantially addressed. Otherpositive aspects are the inclusion of terms for MPEG-4 Systems and thefact that newer MPEG-4 Profiles, e.g. Advanced Simple, are covered bythe license at no extra cost, offering the industry a one stop shop forlicensing MPEG-4.

"I am delighted that terms are finally known", said Rob Koenen,President of M4IF. “This rings the starting bell for the wholebroadcast and multimedia industry to start releasing MPEG-4 productsand services. The licenses are the long-expected prerequisite forMPEG-4 being fully accepted and deployed.”

“It’s good that we now have version 1.0 of the licensingproduct – it can be sold. It does not yet cover all requirements,but I am confident that MPEG LA and the licensors will work withpotential licensees, as they have done to date, to come up with aversion 2.0 that covers more service- and usage models”, saidKoenen.

Although there is no single, comprehensive, open alternative for allmarkets, there are alternatives in each of them. The MPEG-4 industryneeds a license that allows it to offer competitive products andservices in all of MPEG-4's target markets, consistent with theopportunity presented by MPEG-4 as a horizontal, cross-platformstandard.

M4IF hosts a discussion on issues relating to the adoption ofMPEG-4, including MPEG-4 licensing, at discuss@lists.m4if.org. Anyonecan subscribe to this open mailing list at http://www.m4if.org/public/publiclistreg.html.

About MPEG-4

MPEG-4 is the interactive coding standard for all digital multimediaplatforms. Developed by the "Moving Picture Experts Group" thatdesigned MPEG-2 (the digital television standard), MPEG-1 and MP3.Being object-based and extending beyond video and audio, MPEG-4supports rich, interactive, standards-based multimedia from lowbandwidths to transparent quality.

About M4IF

M4IF represents more than 100 companies from diverse industriesevenly distributed across North America, Europe and Asia, addressingMPEG-4 adoption issues that go beyond the charter of ISO/IEC MPEG.Activities of the forum include an interoperability program,certification, several working groups, access to ISO/MPEG committeemembers, and an annual conference (WEMP-4). For more information visit:http://www.m4if.org.