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

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.

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.

Back to Top

Windows Media Video

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

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

Advanced Systems Format (ASF)

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.

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.

Back to Top

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

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

2 AVR32722
32097A-AVR32-01/08

4 MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 Video
Patents covering MPEG-4/MPEG-2 video are claimed by many companies. The MPEG Licensing Authority (http://www.mpegla.com) licenses patents required for MPEG-4 Part 2 Visual and MPEG-2 from a wide range of companies. New licenses for MPEG-4 System patents are under development and no new licenses are being offered while holders of its old MPEG-4 Systems license are still covered under the terms of that license for the patents listed.
The MPEG Licensing Authority has two licensing models for MPEG-2/MPEG-4, a “system” license and “codec” license. The system license applies for devices which handle MPEG-2/MPEG-4 but do not have a licensed video encoder/decoder. This is the case when the device only handles MPEG data streams.
For MPEG-2/MPEG-4 video decoding another license is needed.

4.1 MPEG-2 (2008년 기준)
The fee for a MPEG-2 System license is US$ 0.50 for each product.
Following royalty categories are available for a MPEG-2 “codec” license:
• Decoders: $2.50 per unit
• Encoders: $2.50 per unit
• Distribution Encoders: $2.50 x L per unit, where L is the number of programs encoded in parallel

Consumer Products (Encode & Decode): $2.50 per unit
• Intermediate Products: License to make and sell (no royalty), end user product bears royalty

4.2 MPEG-4 Visual (2008년 기준)
Currently no information about a MPEG-4 system license is available. For further details please contact the MPEG Licensing Authority.
Following royalty categories are available for a MPEG-4 “codec” license:
• Decoders sold to end users and/or as fully functioning for PCs
o 0 - 50,000 decoders/year = no royalty (available to one legal entity in an affiliated group)
o US $0.25* per decoder after first 50,000 decoders/year
o Annual cap per Legal Entity: $1,000,000
• Encoders sold to end users and/or as fully functioning for PCs
o 0 - 50,000 encoders/year = no royalty (available to one legal entity in an affiliated group)
o US $0.25* per encoder after first 50,000 encoders/year
o Annual cap per Legal Entity: $1,000,000
• Enterprise cap - $3 million per year

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

New MPEG LA MPEG-2 License Agreement Offers Extended Coverage at Reduced Royalty Rates

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced the offering of a new MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License that will provide uninterrupted coverage for the life of the MPEG-2 essential patents at reduced royalty rates beginning January 1, 2010.

“MPEG LA and the MPEG-2 Licensors are committed to assuring that our MPEG-2 License continues to be responsive to the needs of our customers and the marketplace, and the new MPEG-2 License provides further affirmation of that objective”

“MPEG LA and the MPEG-2 Licensors are committed to assuring that our MPEG-2 License continues to be responsive to the needs of our customers and the marketplace, and the new MPEG-2 License provides further affirmation of that objective,” said Larry Horn, MPEG LA President and CEO.

From the later of January 1, 2010 or the execution date of the new License, the royalty rate for each MPEG-2 Decoding, Encoding and Consumer Product (as defined in the new License) will be US $2.00, down from the current $2.50, and royalties for MPEG-2 Packaged Medium (e.g., DVD Video Discs) will be reduced to US$0.0176 during 2010, and US$0.016 after 2010.

For more information about the new MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License or to request a copy of the License, please visit http://www.mpegla.com/m2/ or email Licensing@mpegla.com.

MPEG LA, LLC

MPEG LA is the world leader in alternative technology licenses, enabling users to acquire worldwide patent rights necessary for a technology standard or platform from multiple patent holders in a single transaction as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses. Wherever an independently administered one-stop patent license would provide a convenient marketplace alternative to assist users with implementation of their technology choices, the licensing model pioneered and employed by MPEG LA may provide a solution. Among MPEG LA’s licenses is a patent pool for MPEG-2 digital video compression that has helped produce the most widely employed standard in consumer electronics history. The MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License, which includes more than 870 MPEG-2 essential patents in 57 countries, has more than 1,600 licensees accounting for most MPEG-2 products including set-top boxes, DVD players, digital television sets, personal computers and DVD Video Discs in the current world market. MPEG LA is an independent licensing administrator; it is not related to any standards agency and is not an affiliate of any patent holder. For more information, please refer to http://www.mpegla.com.

Contacts

MPEG LA, LLC
Tom O’Reilly, 860-620-0642
Fax: 301-986-8575
toreilly@mpegla.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090705005026/en/MPEG-LA-MPEG-2-License-Agreement-Offers-Extended

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090705005026/en/MPEG-LA-MPEG-2-License-Agreement-Offers-Extended

August 26, 2010 01:00 AM Eastern Time

MPEG LA’s AVC License Will Not Charge Royalties for Internet Video That Is Free to End Users Through Life of License

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MPEG LA announced today that its AVC Patent Portfolio License will continue not to charge royalties for Internet Video that is free to end users (known as “Internet Broadcast AVC Video”) during the entire life of this License. MPEG LA previously announced it would not charge royalties for such video through December 31, 2015 (see http://www.mpegla.com/Lists/MPEG%20LA%20News%20List/Attachments/226/n-10-02-02.pdf), and today’s announcement makes clear that royalties will continue not to be charged for such video beyond that time. Products and services other than Internet Broadcast AVC Video continue to be royalty-bearing.

MPEG LA's AVC Patent Portfolio License provides access to essential patent rights for the AVC/H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10) digital video coding standard. In addition to Internet Broadcast AVC Video, MPEG LA’s AVC Patent Portfolio License provides coverage for devices that decode and encode AVC video, AVC video sold to end users for a fee on a title or subscription basis and free television video services. AVC video is used in set-top boxes, media player and other personal computer software, mobile devices including telephones and mobile television receivers, Blu-ray Disc™ players and recorders, Blu-ray video optical discs, game machines, personal media player devices and still and video cameras.

For more information about MPEG LA’s AVC License or to request a copy of the License, please visit http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/AVC/Pages/Intro.aspx.

MPEG LA, LLC

MPEG LA is the world leader in alternative technology licenses, enabling users to acquire worldwide patent rights necessary for a technology standard or platform from multiple patent owners in a single transaction as an alternative to negotiating individual licenses. Wherever an independently administered one-stop patent license would provide a convenient marketplace alternative to assist users with implementation of their technology choices, the licensing model pioneered and employed by MPEG LA may provide a solution. By balancing patent users’ interest in reasonable access with patent owners’ interest in reasonable return, MPEG LA creates the opportunity for adoption of new technologies and fuels innovation. MPEG LA’s initial licensing program for MPEG-2 digital video compression helped produce the most widely employed standard in consumer electronics history, and the MPEG LA® Licensing Model has become the template for addressing other technologies. Today MPEG LA manages licensing programs consisting of essential patents in 70 countries. For more information, please refer to http://www.mpegla.com.

Contacts

MPEG LA, LLC
Tom O’Reilly
Tel: 303-200-1710
Fax: 301-986-8575
toreilly@mpegla.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100825006629/en/MPEG-LA%E2%80%99s-AVC-License-Charge-Royalties-Internet

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100825006629/en

 

 

한국 MPEG LA컨텍포인트 : Korea-web@mpegla.com

2 AVR32722
32097A-AVR32-01/08

3 MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 Audio
Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is a standardized, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. It is specified both as Part 7 of the MPEG-2 standard, and Part 3 of the MPEG-4 standard. As such, it can be referred to as MPEG-2 Part 7 and MPEG-4 Part 3 depending on its implementation. However it is most often referred to as MPEG-4 AAC, or AAC for short [1].
MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 Audio (AAC) patents are licensed by Via Licensing Corporation. Please visit http://www.vialicensing.com for more information. Various patents from different companies or institutions are covered by these licenses but still others do claim to have relevant patents that are needed (e.g. Thomson states that it has relevant patents that are not included [3]). Via offers any company to submit their patent that covers a relevant part of a technology for an evaluation. If the patent meets the requirements it can be added to the patent pool at no further costs for the licensees. It is
No licenses or payments are required to be able to stream or distribute content in AAC format. This reason alone makes AAC a much more attractive format to distribute content than MP3, particularly for streaming content (such as Internet radio).
However, a patent license is needed by manufacturers or developers of end user encoder and/or decoder products. Under this category fall, according to Via licensing, all end-user products, when sold directly or through distribution to end users. Licensee's products that are not end user products are not covered by the license and would require that the party incorporating such a component or implementation into its end user product obtain its own license.

3.1 MPEG-2 AAC License
The royalties for a license of the MPEG-2 AAC pool are related to the number of units per year and decoder/encoder channels. A channel refers to an audio output channel. For example stereo is a two-channel implementation (left and right), while a surround sound system might have five or more audio channels. Special licensing prices for cellular phones, PC software are also available upon request. Table 3-1 shows an excerpt of standard royalties for MPEG-2 AAC.

Table 3-1. MPEG-2 AAC license royalties excerpt

3.2 MPEG-4 AAC License
The royalties for a license of the MPEG-4 AAC pool are, just like the MPEG-2 version, related to the number of units per year and decoder/encoder channels. Table 3-2 shows an excerpt of standard royalties for MPEG-4 AAC. For special licensing prices that apply for cellular phones or PC software please contact Via licensing.
Table 3-2. MPEG-4 AAC license royalties excerpt

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