[M4IF Discuss] MPEG-LA, On2 and the DoJ

[Rob Koenen]

An interesting development. 
If the fees are indeed unreasonable as On2 states, then the feared 
effect of creating a monopoly will not occur, because the market will
choose alternatives. There are many alternatives available, including
On2. If MPEG-4 does indeed come to dominate the market, it will mean 
that the fees are reasonable because the market chooses to use MPEG-4
and pay the patent fees in all freedom. 
Note that MPEGLA sells licenses non-exclusively.
Staying with the facts, On2 is wrong in:
* stating that "MPEG-2 is not really a standard but one of many forms 
  of video compression technology" (MPEG-2 is also known as ISO/IEC 
  13818 and ITU standards H.262 and H.222 respectively - is those 
  are not standards then ISO, IEC and ITU had better call it quits now). 
* stating that MPEG-4 is owned by MPEG LA ("In January of 2002, MPEG 
  LA announced a licensing structure for its newest digital compression 
  technology MPEG-4"). MPEG-4 is also an international standard (ISO/IEC
  14496), created by many more parties than just the license holders;
* the license is final -- it is far from final. Conclusions are drawn from 
  unknown and unannounced facts, notably when broadcast is concerned.
On2 objects against a patent pool. We all understand that requiring 
licensees to deal with 18+ individual patent holders (as On2 suggests) 
will not result in a faster process, and it is not likely to yield 
more reasonable license arrangements. Nobody will risk implementing the 
standard in that case.
Draw your own conclusions.
Rob
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Saint John [mailto:rsaintjohn   ligos.com]
> Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2024 9:10
> To: M4IF Discussion List (E-mail)
> Subject: [M4IF Discuss] MPEG-LA, On2 and the DoJ
> 
> 
> Well, this is just getting downright silly. As if the issues 
> at hand weren't
> complicated enough, On2 has decided to try to disrupt the 
> entire MPEG effort
> by calling in our (United States) beloved DoJ....
> 
> --------------------
> On2 Technologies Sends Letter to Department of Justice 
> Questioning Legality
> of MPEG LA
> 
> NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2002--On2 Technologies 
> Inc., The Duck
> Corporation, the industry leader in video compression technology, has
> petitioned the Department of Justice to investigate the 
> validity of MPEG LA,
> as it relates to the promotion of MPEG-4 as a video standard, 
> and the patent
> pooling of other MPEG technologies. 
> 
> (more)
> 
> http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020314/140113_1.html
> 
> 
> Robert 
> -- 
> Robert W. Saint John - rsaintjohn   ligos.com 
> Director of Technical Marketing 
> Ligos Corporation - http://www.ligos.com/ 
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