Hi all, I mailed mp3licensing.com today to get an official position (and to ask whether they'd grant a permanent, irrevocable licence for GPL or LGPL implementations of the codecs. I got this answer.
So, officially, although this is not stated anywhere on their site, they allow non-commercial use. Cheers, Dave. ----- Forwarded message from Caldwell Rocky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- Subject: [David Neary]RE: MP3 licensing Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 09:07:16 -0800 From: Caldwell Rocky <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear David, Thanks for contacting mp3 Licensing. You are asking legal questions, and we do not provide legal advice. However, obviously, mp3 implementations by GPL and LGPL software use the patents developed by Frauhofer and Thomson. Without the patents, there would be no GPL or LGPL mp3 software. Usage of any patents is determined by the patent holders. We are not prepared to issue and irrevocable, free patent license to GPL and LGPL software using our patents. We do allow non-commerical use of our patents. However, the GPL and LGPL software allow onward distribution that can easily be non-commercial. As the LAME software page states, "Using the LAME encoding engine (or other mp3 encoding technology) in your software may require a patent license in some countries." Regards, Rocky Caldwell Director, mp3 Licensing Thomson Patents and LIcensing RB Courtyard, Suite 100 16935 W. Bernardo Drive Rancho Bernardo, CA 92127 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.mp3licensing.com Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides end-to-end solutions (technologies, equipment and services) to the entertainment industries. To advance and enable the digital media transition, Thomson has four principal divisions: Content and Networks, Consumer Products, Components, and Licensing. The company distributes its products under the Technicolor, Grass Valley, THOMSON and RCA brand names. For more information: www.thomson.net -----Original Message----- From: David Neary [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Neary Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 1:58 AM To: *SAND MP3 Info Subject: MP3 licensing Hi, Would you mind explaining to me the implications of your patent claims on Free Software applications, please? Do free software or open source applications which include an MP3 decoder or encoder require an MP3 license? In this situation, what licensing fees are applicable? What jurisdictions are governed by these patents? Would you be prepared to issue an irrevocable, free patent license to GPL and LGPL software implementing the MP3 codec? I am unfamiliar with the legal issues involved, being European, but I would like to know more about your patent claims, and how they impact software I work on and with. Regards, Dave Neary. -- David Neary, Lyon, France E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- End forwarded message ----- -- David Neary, Lyon, France E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CV: http://dneary.free.fr/CV/ -- marketing-list mailing list marketing-list@gnome.org http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/marketing-list