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MPEG LA Extends H.264 Royalty-Free Period

Posted by timothy on from the now-how-much-would-you-pay? dept.

Sir Homer writes "The MPEG LA has extended their royalty-free license (PDF) for 'Internet Video that is free to end users' until the end of 2016. This means webmasters who are registered MPEG LA licensees will not have to pay a royalty to stream H.264 video for the next six years. However the last patent in the H.264 portfolio expires in 2028, and the MPEG LA has not released what fees, if any, it will charge webmasters after this 'free trial' period is over."

2 of 260 comments (clear)

  1. Re:And even if sucked by drinkypoo · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Or, put differently, if YouTube and Hulu gave users a choice between h.264 and Theora, everyone (except the eople who care about freedom) would choose h.264.

    There, fixed that for you. (I normally don't use that phrase, but in this case you really did drink the kool-aid.)

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  2. Re:And even if sucked by drinkypoo · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    By 2016 In re Bilski will have eliminated software patents entirely.

    Do you believe in Santa Claus, Jesus, and the Easter Bunny too?

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"