New MPEG-4 Licensing Scheme

morcheeba writes: "EETimes is reporting that the licensing of MPEG-4 patents will be substantially different than the existing MPEG-2 licenses. The per-player fee will be substantially cheaper ($0.25 instead of $2.50), but a new "use fee" component of $0.02/hour will be charged to service providers. More on MPEG-4 in general at MacWeek; The MPEG-4 Industry Forum and MPEG LA are handling the licenses."

Comments

Economics of the past

[Dutchmaan]

I'm wondering in the next 10 years how many things we'll no longer own, but be charged as we use them.

I think there was a word for this kind of situation...

Serfdom

Only this time we pay to a CEO instead of a "Lord"

Re:FUD

[Lars T.]

You are welcome. If somebody asks me about DivX, I'll answer about DivX, not DivX 4.