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MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

mpegla.com

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Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#31

Post by shawnz »

whatshisface wrote: post #16
Retr0spectrum wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm inclined to agree with you, but why?

Patents were designed so that companies would contribute to public knowledge instead of keeping everything as a trade secret. The idea was that they would be afforded increased security for a few years, in exchange for the idea becoming public afterwards. The time range was set to be practical for the industry. The problem is, over the past few years software has been moving way too fast for the standard patent timef…

> The problem is, over the past few years software has been moving way too fast for the standard patent timeframe.

Two thoughts:

- Why does this mean that they should be eliminated entirely? Why not revise the timeframe?

- Isn't this argument applicable to almost all modern patents, whether software, technological, or otherwise?

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#32

Post by thaumasiotes »

ReAzem wrote: post #24
thaumasiotes wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is more algorithm than software isn’t it? What do you believe the difference is? To me, software and algorithms are the same thing.

An algorithm is not patentable. Inventions may use algorithm but the invention cannot be just an algorithm.

Algorithms are indeed patentable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lempel%E2%80%93Ziv%E2%80%93Wel...

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#33

Post by thaumasiotes »

iAMAGuest wrote: post #30
thaumasiotes wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is more algorithm than software isn’t it? What do you believe the difference is? To me, software and algorithms are the same thing.

> To me, software and algorithms are the same thing Algorithms exist outside of software. Algorithms are formulas or functions for solving a problem. Software is usually the implementation of one or more algorithms on a computer.

Why not think of your algorithms as software for a machine that doesn't yet exist?

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#34

Post by zanny »

amelius wrote: post #22

As an aside, MPEG-LA already moved on, forming other patent pools such as for CRISPR (the gene editing technology). See their website: http://www.mpegla.com/main/default.aspx

Ah yes, the sweet taste of abusing state institutions to hold back scientific progress. First it was efficient video and audio compression, now it will be life saving treatment. Ain't the world such a better place for MPEG-LA existing... (that being said, if MPEG-LA wasn't around, someone else would have formed just as evil a patent tyrant company to act as the arm of big media). MPEG-LA is just a symptom of broken IP law just as much as patent trolls and the Eastern District of Texas getting parks built by global corps are.

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#35

Post by kelnos »

digi_owl wrote: post #26
muxator wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DVB-T2 can use a variety of codecs. From 2022 some European countries (Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia) will pass their broadcasting system to DVB-T2 with H.265. Since January 2017 new TVs must support HEVC decoding. Sadly, no AV1...

Do wonder how many will be left hanging high and dry with that transition.

Hopefully they'll do something similar to what the US did during the analog->digital switch: provide external tuner hardware to people who can or won't upgrade their televisions either free or subsidized.

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#36

Post by zanny »

digi_owl wrote: post #25
stickydink wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DVDs are still created and purchased all over the world, I don't think it's quite obsolete yet?

And likely never will be. Newer codecs basically exist because video resolutions outpace storage space (for questionable benefits). MPEG2, much like MP3, are "good enough" for most common usage.

A megabyte saved is still a megabyte saved. An mp3 sourced from a FLAC at 320kbps is ususally indistinguishable from 128kbps Opus to me, but I can often tell the difference between that and a 128kbps mp3. I encode all my music in 128kbps Opus on my storage constrained devices for that reason.

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#37

Post by pitaj »

Crontab wrote: post #4

This is a striking example of the need to shorten software patents; if we really must have them at all.

I'd rather the patent system be abolished than have the current patent system. Same applies to Copyright.

The entire state of IP with the DMCA is just abysmal.

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#38

Post by shawnz »

nothis wrote: post #18
Retr0spectrum wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm inclined to agree with you, but why?

Hasn’t this been discussed to death? Since most algorithms are more or less pure math, there’s mostly only one way to do things efficiently. You also get quasi-standards that are copyrighted, which is not healthy for competition. Also MPEG2 at least has some work put into it, many software patents are ridiculous. Wasn’t there one for queuing printing jobs?

> Since most algorithms are more or less pure math, there’s mostly only one way to do things efficiently.

If that were true, there'd be no competition in the codec space. Besides, why can't the same argument be applied to machinery? There's "mostly only one way" to poke a thread through a sheet of fabric, so why should the sewing machine be patentable?

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#39

Post by colechristensen »

digi_owl wrote: post #26
muxator wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DVB-T2 can use a variety of codecs. From 2022 some European countries (Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia) will pass their broadcasting system to DVB-T2 with H.265. Since January 2017 new TVs must support HEVC decoding. Sadly, no AV1...

Do wonder how many will be left hanging high and dry with that transition.

In the US transition to digital transmission, nobody was left high and dry. Perhaps mildly confused or inconvenienced by the need to get and setup a government subsidized converter box. Doubtful this would go any different for the above.

Re: MPEG-2 Patents Have Expired

#40

Post by [deleted] »

shawnz wrote: post #31
whatshisface wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Patents were designed so that companies would contribute to public knowledge instead of keeping everything as a trade secret. The idea was that they would be afforded increased security for a few years, in exchange for the idea becoming public afterwards. The time range was set to be practical for the industry. The problem is, over the past few years software has been moving way too fast for the standard patent timef…

> The problem is, over the past few years software has been moving way too fast for the standard patent timeframe. Two thoughts: - Why does this mean that they should be eliminated entirely? Why not revise the timeframe? - Isn't this argument applicable to almost all modern patents, whether software, technological, or otherwise?

[deleted]
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