On 03-Oct 10:24, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Hello, > > I am a little confused and I hope you can help me. > > I implement "mpglib.lib", "libmp3lame.lib" and "lame.h" into an application > which job is to decode mp3 files. Now I get the information if I release this > application I have to pay royalties to Thomson. (I thought you only have to > pay > to Thomson if you're working with the Fraunhofer Codec). > > So here is my question: > Do I have to pay royalty to Thomson if I use Lame code inside of an > application > which will be available for free/for money?
In a word, yes. In US and probably German juristictions Thomson has a patent on the encoding (and arguably decoding as well) process of MP3. Lame started life as a patch to Thomson's reference implamentation of how a MP3 encoder work--but there is no actual code left from their release; it was buggy and slow. Large linux distrobutions have been wary of the MP3 patents, but I haven't ever heard of a enforcement on Decoding parts of the patents, but there have been legal letters on any use of the encoding patents w/o roylaties (no first hand experience but google should be helpfull on _this_ question.) Thomas > > > Thanx, > Micha. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. > > _______________________________________________ > mp3encoder mailing list > [email protected] > http://minnie.tuhs.org/mailman/listinfo/mp3encoder _______________________________________________ mp3encoder mailing list [email protected] http://minnie.tuhs.org/mailman/listinfo/mp3encoder
