Java Media Framework Drops MP3

realinvalidname writes "Sun had stopped downloads of its Java Media Framework about a week ago due to an undisclosed 'licensing issue.' Now we know what it is, as they've removed MP3 encoding and decoding from the JMF that's downloadable now. Of course, this isn't surprising given recent news about new MP3 licensing terms."

Comments

not the reason??

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe someone should check out this article first:

"Thomson has never charged a per unit royalty for freely distributed software decoders. For commercially sold decoders - primarily hardware mp3 players - the per-unit royalty has always been in place since the beginning of the program," a spokesman said"

"A Thomson spokesman told NewsForge's Robin Miller that it was a ruse by Ogg Vorbis advocates to get publicity.® "

http://www.theregus.com/content/4/26153.html

Re:not the reason??

[ftobin]

You're getting your information from a PR person. I'm getting mine from the licensing page. I see no such exception for free decoders.

Javalayer MP3 Player

[jpavel]

Fortunately, there is an open source Java MP3 decoder, JavaLayer that I've found to work quite nicely.

Re: Java Bug 4499904

[bunratty]

Adding support for Ogg Vorbis and Tarkin is bug 4499904 in the Bug Parade. This seems like a good time to vote for the bug and add your comments.

Re:OV..does anyone know?

[hotgazpacho]

Some quick Googling turned up, among other things, JOrbis, an LGPL Ogg Vorbis Decoder in Java that decodes to PCM.

Re:If not mp3...

[j3110]

It's a media framework. That means it's not SUN's job to make it work with everything :) You can add your own plugin audio codecs. Think of it as a portable version of the Windows Media Codec registry. I'm sure there will be sites that you can download MP3 plugins for the JMF. I'm pretty sure Ogg already exists, but I'm not sure about that. ( JavaZoom claims they have some kind of a version)

Expect to see lots of codec's for JMF provided by third parties, the way it should be. Should be because SUN's programmers don't have the time nor inclination (nor obligation) to learn every little detail about every little file format. It'll be better in the end to have a more dedicated support for each codec whilst keeping the portability and API static for all codecs.

No, Don't mod parent up

[hayden]

From the article you posted:

[In reference to charging licence fees] For commercially sold decoders - primarily hardware mp3 players

Keyword, "primarily" meaning mostly but not only hardware decoders. Also:

Therefore, there is no change in our licensing policy

Keyword, "policy" meaning yes the licence has changed but our intent currently remains the same.

Basically Thompson have said they currently don't plan to sue anyone making a software decoder but they don't grant you the right to use their patent either. Nobody selling or planning on selling software can use their patent without risk of infringement (and compensation pays triple if you knowingly infringe a patent) and being sued by Thompson in the future.

What some PR flack said doesn't change that. It's only what's in the licence that counts.

Next time, when you post a story that's clearly going to cause paranoia and misunderstanding, try to be a bit more adult about it.

Next time when you are clearing posting to spread misinformation and crap, try posting as you so you can get modded down for it.

From the xmms web site.....

[Spazzz]

Statement from Thomson Multimedia, mp3 Licensing

In a posting appearing Tuesday August 27, 2002 on the Web site 'slashdot.org,' an individual cited a change in the mp3 license fee structure of Thomson and Fraunhofer. The writer of the post apparently misread the mp3 licensing conditions, as Thomson's mp3 licensing policy has not experienced any change.

To clarify, since the beginning of our mp3 licensing program in 1995, Thomson has never charged a per unit royalty for freely distributed software decoders. For commercially sold decoders - primarily hardware mp3 players - the per-unit royalty has always been in place since the beginning of the program.

Therefore, there is no change in our licensing policy and we continue to believe that the royalty fees of .75 cents per mp3 player (on average selling over $200 dollars) has no measurable impact on the consumer experience.

Stefan Geyersberger
Business Manager - Audio & Multimedia

So why the hell is everybody freaking out? I agree, just like GIFs, the MP3 format is encumbered by patents, and it's probably a good idea to start transitioning to a format that doesn't have this problem. However, the sky hasn't fallen yet.

-J