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The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

iis.fraunhofer.de

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Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#231

Post by pbhjpbhj »

quadrangle wrote: post #178
PhasmaFelis wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm down on software patents too, but I'm not sure that's supportable without at least some sort of argument.

Given that the fundamental concept of software patents is bad, not only in principle but in practice, there's burden on anyone suggesting the good/bad question to validate that it's even a legitimate question. It's like the creationism/evolution "debate". I can simply say that there's no validity at all to the creationism arguments without providing any argument at all. Similar to the idea that I don't need to provid…

If your premise is that "patents are not good" then why even ask the question about software patents?

It's rather disingenuous, the assumption with the structure of your question is "within the framework of 'patents can be good'".

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#232

Post by trengrj »

CalChris wrote: post #179
djsumdog wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm really glad New Zealand decided to disallow software patents. I wish more countries would follow suit.

I'm really glad New Zealand decided to disallow software patents No, that is not the case. http://www.ajpark.com/ip-central/news-articles/2016/05/new-z... What the Zeds have done is really not so different from what the Supreme Court decided in Enfish : claims purporting to improve the functioning of the computer itself, or improving an existing technological process might not succumb to the abstract idea exception A…

This source is a bit clearer:

http://www.iam-media.com/blog/detail.aspx?g=96d4aeaf-dedf-4a...

"Effectively, if the invention lies purely in software, then it is considered unpatentable. However, as outlined in the explanatory note of the SOP, patents will still be able to be granted for inventions that

a) make use of computer programs where the contribution lies outside of the computer, or

b) affect the computer but is not dependent on the type of data being processed or the particular application being used.

Essentially embedded software is patentable where it improves the operation of hardware, along with software that improves the way a computer runs. Again, this is consistent with the UK."

Also Zeds is a really strange name for us. Correct term is Kiwis or Rugby Overlords :)

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#233

Post by InclinedPlane »

derefr wrote: post #8

So, now that the "but MP3 is patent-encumbered" consideration is finally dead-ish, what's the new balance on the debate between shipping {MP3, MP4-AAC, MKV-Vorbis, MKV-Opus} as music/SFX assets in software products? Also, with the two sub-considerations: • on mobile, where hardware decoding exists for only some codecs; • on the web, where the audio APIs only accept some of these formats/codecs.

I'm curious why you think shipping MP3 audio in software/games was ever seriously at issue due to patents? Decoding MP3s has always been non-problematic, and encoding MP3s was only ever problematic for a few years about two decades ago.

Some modern games use uncompressed audio because it frees up a few CPU cycles and the min/max balance on hard drives versus CPUs makes that choice desirable if you want to push the minimum spec. range on your game as low as possible (so that more people can play it). Though even then that's only necessary if your main game engine is hitting the CPU pretty hard to start with.

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#234

Post by realusername »

amelius wrote: post #217
notaplumber wrote: post #11

Recognizing this adds legitimacy to software patents. Don't. There have been free and open source MP3 decoders for many years now.

Why can my friends who studied medicine, physics, and mechanical engineering make money with their inventions, while I, software engineer, cannot?

I've never seen any software worth patenting unlike with other disciplines, maybe it would help the case for software patents if they would be a need for it

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#236

Post by Freak_NL »

throwaway91111 wrote: post #97
2bluesc wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How do you "support a format"? AFAIK nothing will convince Apple to release music in a better (patent-free) codec, much less convince others to dump DRM. Then you start by not giving them your money. It's a uphill battle, but someone has to fight the good fight instead of just throwing their hands-up.

Do you suggest I don't listen to music, or are you prepared with an alternative to apple?

Why do you need Apple to listen to music?

There is radio (online and in the ether), there are alternative platforms (e.g., Bandcamp), concerts and other live venues, (second hand) physical media (e.g., CDs or vinyl), open access music, etcetera.

On top of all that there is the big middle finger of 'piracy' if you are so inclined. For many this is a morally acceptable alternative to a rotten system, for others it may remain an imponderable transgression of law and or ethics — either way, it is a viable alternative in addition to the above.

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#237

Post by bigbugbag »

Funny how they fail to mention patent free better audio codec such as vorbis or flac which became a thing folowwing decision of licensing mp3 20 years ago. But they did not miss the opportunity to cite AAC which is patented and has to be licensed for certain uses.

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#238

Post by bigbugbag »

throwaway91111 wrote: post #98
alerighi wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So don't buy music from Apple, or from anyone else that sells it in non-free formats

Do you have a suggestion? Where can I find Rihanna in Ogg/Vorbis?

Piracy scene, get the flac version and reencode to vorbis.

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#239

Post by floatboth »

svieira wrote: post #176
floatboth wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, PNG instantly took over as the lossless non-animated format, but Animated PNG is still not widely supported (Firefox only IIRC?) Mostly the "auto-playing animations without audio" stuff is moving to videos, e.g. https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2016/07/autoplay

Chrome too, as of Chrome 59 (currently in Beta): https://www.chromestatus.com/features/6691520493125632 and Safari: http://caniuse.com/#feat=apng

LOL, it was supported in the old Presto-based Operas as well :D One of the few "green to red" entries on caniuse

Re: The licensing program for MP3-related patents has been terminated

#240

Post by Scea91 »

vkou wrote: post #102
JohnJamesRambo wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With your ideas about patents someone should do it out of the kindness of their heart I guess. Is that what has driven most technological advancements of the human race? In your software-patentless world, why would a genius choose to work in software as opposed to another field inventing patentable tangible objects where he or she will be monetarily rewarded for it and able to make a living? Don't say you are already…

No, you get a patent for your secret anti-clog dishwasher, so that the courts grant you a monopoly on it. In exchange, you have to give something back - specifically, you have to reveal your secret design to society - so that it is useful to someone in the future. That's the contract that you agree to, when you patent something. If you don't want to reveal your design, you could always keep it a trade secret. If you'…

But does mp3 fall in the category you describe? I agree with you that many software patents should not be granted, but the distinction should not be between software/notsoftware.
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