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Another Patent Pool Forms For HEVC
An anonymous reader writes: A new patent pool, dubbed HEVC Advance, has formed for the HEVC video codec. This pool offers separate licensing from the existing MPEG LA HEVC patent pool. In an article for CNET, Stephen Shankland writes, "HEVC Advance promises a 'transparent' licensing process, but so far it isn't sharing details except to say it's got 500 patents it describes as essential for using HEVC, that it plans to unveil its license in the third quarter, and that expected licensors include General Electric, Technicolor, Dolby, Philips and Mitsubishi Electric. The group's statement suggested that some patent holders weren't satisfied with the money they'd make through MPEG LA's license. One of HEVC Advance's goals is 'delivering a balanced business model that supports HEVC commercialization.' ... HEVC Advance and MPEG LA aren't detailing what led to two patent pools, an outcome that undermines MPEG LA's attempt to offer a convenient 'one-stop shop' for companies needing a license." Perhaps this will lead to increased adoption of royalty-free video codecs such as VP9. Monty Montgomery of Xiph has some further commentary.
Anyone doing any kind of serious work with an encoder (bulk especially) would laugh at you for the "gobbledygook" comment. In order for people to be able to enjoy videos in a format, we need these tools to give them things to watch. Without efficient CLI commands, your codec is nigh on useless. And for personal use it's also largely irrelevant; users use what their camera does, which is probably calling that CLI command, or the even more technical APIs those interfaces expose. GUI work for video editing is important, but once you have your clip you still need those tools for your GUI to even function.
No, but it does mean you risk going bankrupt fighting an invalid patent.
I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
That MPEG2 had hundreds of patents would suggest that there is a problem. That makes it sound as if basically every step had at least one patent, possibly more. If that's the case, then meaningful competition is going to be impossible.
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.