[Freeciv-Dev] Re: MP3 Patent Issues

["Sam BC" <sambc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

So, in review, there is nothing stopping use of MP3 sound in any way as long
as the sounds/music are ENcoded in Europe or with European software.

So, getting back to the very original reason for this discussion, if people
want to start any development for sounds (reactionary fx or ambient music)
there is no reason not to use MP3.


SamBC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: bashiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bashiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
> Tomasz Wegrzanowski
> Sent: 27 June 2000 12:20
> To: Sam BC
> Cc: Freeciv Development Mailing List
> Subject: [Freeciv-Dev] Re: MP3 Patent Issues
>
>
> What I know about legaleese around mp3's :
>
> Facts:
>
> 1. Some ENencoding ALGORITHMs are patented in both US and EU.
> 2. DEcoding is NOT patented.
> 3. Munich Convention point 52.2 says :
>    "Computer Programs are not patentable"
> 4. I know nothing about situation in Far East.
> 5. I am not a lawyer.
>
> Details:
>
> Official (EUC or EPO, don't remember) Interpretation for 3. is :
>   "Computer Programs affected by patents in any way"
>
> Decoding will be always free, because people decoded >1 year ago.
> So they can't patent NOW, and didn't BEFORE.
>
> In Europe, MP3 encoding patents are PROBABLY still valid
> but apply only for HARDware ENcoders.
> But I doubt HARDware ENcoders uses the same algorithms.
>
> On Mon, Jun 26, 2000 at 10:16:06PM +0100, Sam BC wrote:
> > oh, and forgot to say, unless things have suddenly gotten worse then the
> > situation *should* only apply to encoding software, and probably not to
> > decoders, although there are still some specific points of
> contest regarding
> > specific software (no idea  which)
> >
> >
> > SamBC
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: freeciv-dev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > > [mailto:freeciv-dev-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Sam BC
> > > Sent: 26 June 2000 22:05
> > > To: Freeciv Development Mailing List
> > > Subject: [Freeciv-Dev] MP3 Patent Issues
> > >
> > >
> > > I have been investigating the patent issues surrounding MP3
> > > encoding/decoding, and although definite answers seem hard to
> find, this
> > > seems to be the general situation:
> > >
> > > 1) There is a legal situation regarding patents on MP3
> encoding/decoding
> > >
> > > 2) This situation is as yet unresolved, as there is contests
> regarding the
> > > public domain nature of the standard definitions. It is not
> likely to be
> > > resolved for some time due to legal hurdles.
> > >
> > > 3) The situation is only relevant to coders active in America
> (although
> > > vending/distributing may cause conflicts). An operation
> entirely contained
> > > within, for example, Europe, and many other jurisdictions,
> are entirely
> > > unaffected
> > >
> > > That's just my attempt to distil the info. I may be wrong, but I am
> > > completely confident on the  last point. The second point is more
> > > likely to
> > > be incorrect, but it was gathered from various sources.
> > >
> > > Hope that helps.
>
>
>