[opendtv] Re: The New Mac Mini is All About Movies
- From: johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxx
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 23:57:32 -0800 (PST)
First off, thanks for the opending.
Secondly, MP-3 audio is MPEG-2 layer 3 audio, not MPEG-1 audio (unless
it's both; I play in AC-3 mostly).
I had an interesting talk along these lines today at the tech retreat.
Most of the stuff in the ATSC patent pool (this non-participant told me)
related to LG patents for the transport stream and the like. They don't
necessarily apply to PSIP, since I don't touch the transport stream, just
(in most instances) send packets or table sections to a device that
handles the transport stream.
Payment of a $2,500 fee to MPEG LA for a basic MPEG-2 license would cover
most of the above, against $0.25 per "encoder." It's not even certain
that I would need to pay that, but $2,500 is cheaper than a few hours of
an IP attorney's time.
I also have to be very careful in answering this. As to contingency fund,
no. I started on my somewhat informal IP search more than two years ago.
Frankly, there are worse situations that one can encounter than PSIP IP
issues when contemplating EPG IP.
PSIP was essentially invented by Mark Eyer at General Instruments (he's
now with Sony and chair of the ATSC's t3/s8 specialist group) for the EPG
system used in DirecTV. It seems at this point that GI didn't apply for a
patent, at least under their name. I'm told that there were several
issues, but to relate what I was told is to engage in idle chit-chat (at
best.)
There are several PSIP-centric patent applications pending. I have talked
with the applicant's licensing arm. One of the patent applications
(several list members will know EXACTLY what I am alluding to here) was
assigned (actually exclusively licensed) to an "off-shore" company as part
of a deal from several years back. They've made use of the patent, and
will continue to do so.
I have had extensive talks with the IP attorney for the licensee. We have
reached a royalty agreement. In addition, if I desire and have the
ability, they will, upon a few minimal conditions, make me the exclusive
sub-licensee to this pending patent. (Which, by the way, may or may not
be granted; I'm leaning toward the former.)
In that case, I can then (I am not permitted to discuss any details of the
pending patent due to various non-disclosure terms) possibly be in a
position to license the IP to others.
The real issue is being able to know the technology that PSIP generators
use internally. Kinda hard to do that, and there is more than a few other
issues to deal with. I could go into my "fun" with the licensing folk at
Dolby Labs, but I don't think I have much to worry about in that regard:
fair and non-discriminatory (their licensing requirement) might seem vague
as relates to others, but it definately DOES NOT apply to what they put me
through over 10 months (which ended on December 31, 2003.)
The original applicant also has more pending PSIP patents, but I'm
concerned about over the air more than "other methods." Will PSIP ever
happen on cable or other media?
Assuming that there is PSIP patents in the pool (shooting blind at the
moment) Why would I set up a contingency fund when I can just pay the
license fee when/if the pool starts licensing?
John
P.S., in other words, it might not be me that has to worry about the
contingencies. But, one never knows ...
> At 10:25 PM -0800 1/24/05, John Willkie wrote:
>>Craig didn't use that "example" in his post, but that's a good question,
>>too: Is MPEG AAC an open standard. My vote is: no. Sure, the
>>specification is openly available, but one can't openly use it without
>>considering (and ultimately overcoming) IP issues.
>
> Whatever you say John.
>
> Good thing that there are no IP issues related to MP3 (AKA MPEG-1
> audio), MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or VC1...
>
> One more question John:
>
> Have you set up a contingency fund to pay the ATSC /MPEG-LA royalties
> on the IP in PSIP?
>
> Regards
> Craig
>
>
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