Windows Media WMA /WMV /VC-1

2 AVR32722
32097A-AVR32-01/08

5 Windows Media
To get more information about the different licensing models of Windows® Media visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/licensing/default.mspx.
As a chipset manufacturer, system integrator, or independent software vendor (ISV), you can license Windows Media technologies such as audio or video codecs, or Windows Media digital rights management (DRM) for your Interim Products. These Interim Products include digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), reference designs, or other Windows or non-Windows software applications [5]. For such devices no royalties are needed because they are no “end-user products” but a source code fee may apply if a customer needs to port the code. Ported closed-source codecs for some Windows Media formats, such as WMA, are available from Atmel. Please contact Atmel for further details [7].
The following tables in the next chapters are an overview over the royalties that correspond to embedded end-user systems and shall serve as an orientation point for the reader. More detailed information about Windows Media licensing fees and royalties are available from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/licensing/licensing.aspx.

5.1 Windows Media Audio (WMA)
Windows Media Audio (WMA) is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft®. The name can be used to refer to its audio file format or its audio codecs. It is a proprietary technology which forms part of the Windows Media framework. WMA consists of four distinct codecs. The original WMA codec, known simply as WMA, WMA Pro, a newer and more advanced codec, supports multi-channel and high resolution audio. A lossless codec, WMA Lossless, compresses audio data without loss of audio fidelity. WMA Voice, targeted at voice content, applies compression using a range of low bit rates [1].
The licensing of WMA is not directly related to the different codecs. Instead the licensing model is related to how many channels are used and if the digital rights management technology is used.

Table 5-1. Royalties for WMA with two or fewer channels

Table 5-2. Royalties for WMA with three or more channels

5.2 Windows Media Video (WMV)
Windows Media Video (WMV) is a compressed video file format for several proprietary codecs developed by Microsoft. Table 5-3 shows the royalties per final product unit.
Table 5-3. Royalties for Windows Media Video (WMV)

6 References
[1] Information about various video/audio formats: http://www.wikipedia.org
[2] MP3 licensing from Thomson: http://www.mp3licensing.com
[3] Atmel as MP3 licensee: http://www.mp3licensing.com/licensees/index.asp
[4] MPEG-2 MPEG-4 Audio (AAC) licensing: http://www.vialicensing.com
[5] Windows Media licensing:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/licensing/default.mspx
[6] Windows Media licensing fees and royalties: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/licensing/licensing.aspx
[7] Atmel contact email: avr32@atmel.com
[8] Sisvel (Audio MPEG) MP3 licensing: http://www.audiompeg.com

 

Windows Media Licensing Royalties for Final Products

Related Links • Windows Media Licensing Program • Licensing Windows Media Technologies for Final Products • Licensing Fees for Interim Products

The following tables identify the royalties for Windows Media components that apply to devices shipped as Final Products, such as portable media players, set-top boxes, mobile phones, or Windows or non-Windows software applications.
The terms listed on this page are specified in the current Windows Media licensing agreements. If you want to upgrade to a current licensing agreement, send an e-mail message to Windows Media Licensing at wmla@microsoft.com.
Windows Media Audio: One or Two or Fewer Channels
Windows Media Audio: Three or More Channels
Windows Media Video
Advanced Systems Format (ASF)
Windows Media Networking Technology
Windows Media High Definition-Compatible Digital (HDCD) Technology
Note   All prices are in U.S. currency.

Interim and Final Products

Throughout the Windows Media Licensing Program information, you will see references to "Interim Products" and "Final Products." It is important to clearly understand the difference between these two product types. The Windows Media license agreements contain the following definitions:
Interim Product is a software or hardware product or integrated circuit (for example, a silicon implementation, digital signal processing chip, software SDK, or optical drive mechanism) that is designed to be incorporated into or combined with a Final Product.
Final Product is a software or hardware product in a final form of manufacturing with a fully functional user interface that is intended for distribution to end users (for example, a media player application, cellular phone, motor vehicle radio, portable digital music player, or handheld Internet appliance).

 

 

Windows Media Audio: One or Two Channels

The following fees apply to Windows Media Audio (WMA) components for products with one or two channels. No royalties are due on distributions of PC software versions designed to operate on the Windows operating system.

Component	Royalty per final product unit	Annual Fee Payment for embedded system	Annual Fee Payment for PC software on non-Windows operating systems
Decoder	$0.10	$400,000	$20,000
Encoder	$0.20	$800,000	$200,000
Decoder and Encoder	$0.25	$1,000,000	$210,000

Back to Top

Windows Media Audio: Three or More Channels

The following fees apply to Windows Media Audio (WMA) components for products with three or more channels. No royalties are due on distributions of PC software versions designed to operate on the Windows operating system.

Component	Royalty per final product unit	Annual Fee Payment for embedded system	Annual Fee Payment for PC software on non-Windows operating systems
Decoder	$0.20	$800,000	$40,000
Encoder	$0.20	$800,000	$200,000
Decoder and Encoder	$0.35	$1,400,000	$230,000

Back to Top

Windows Media Video

No royalties are due on distributions of PC software versions designed to operate on the Windows operating system.

Component	Royalty per final product unit	Annual Fee Payment for embedded system	Annual Fee Payment for PC software on non-Windows operating systems
Decoder	$0.10	$400,000	$400,000
Encoder	$0.20	$800,000	$800,000
Decoder and Encoder	$0.25	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
Decoder (VC-1 Patent Pool Licensee)*	$0.06	$240,000	$240,000
Encoder (VC-1 Patent Pool Licensee)*	$0.12	$480,000	$480,000
Decoder and Encoder (VC-1 Patent Pool Licensee)*	$0.15	$600,000	$600,000

* Discounted rates applicable to licensees with VC-1 Patent Portfolio License Agreement with MPEGLA.
Back to Top

Advanced Systems Format (ASF)

Component	Royalty per final product unit	Annual Fee Payment for embedded system	Annual Fee Payment for PC software on non-Windows operating systems
ASF Read	$0.00	$0	$0
ASF Write	$0.00	$0	$0

Back to Top

Windows Media Networking Technology

No royalties are due on distributions of PC software versions designed to operate on the Windows operating system.

Component	Royalty per final product unit	Annual Fee Payment for embedded system	Annual Fee Payment for PC software on non-Windows operating systems
Network Read	$0.25	$1,000,000	$1,000,000

Back to Top

Windows Media High Definition-Compatible Digital (HDCD) Technology

No royalties are due on distributions of PC software versions designed to operate on the Windows operating system.

Component	Royalty per final product unit	Annual Fee Payment for embedded system	Annual Fee Payment for PC software on non-Windows operating systems
HDCD Technology	$0.10	$400,000	$400,000

Back to Top

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/licensing/final.aspx#WindowsMediaAudioStandardVersion_Final

 

http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/VC1/Pages/Agreement.aspx