[M4IF Discuss] Questions about the hourly usage fee for MPEG4

[Rob Koenen]

> The plan requires compliance 
> from partiesthat are not part of the agreement, i.e., the consumers, as 
> until a file is decoded, it's just data and not utilizing anybody's 
> intellectual property.

This is a misconception. I am not a lawyer, so I cannot explain (and do
not know) how it works, but NO license fee will be collected from 
consumers, as long as they do not (re)distribute content in association
with which there is a remuneration.
> Will consumers be required to pay a monthly fee to the licesne holders to
> use a decoder?  

No. I wonder where this idea comes from.
> Charging companies that move the files around is almost
> analagous to charging FedEx royalties when they ship a 
> product that utilizes copyrighted material (like a DVD) 
> or patented technology.  

I have similar questions. 
Rob