MPEG Industry Forum

Recently, two licensing agents (MPEG LA and Via Licensing) announced preliminary terms for joint licenses for Advanced Video Coding (H.264 | MPEG-4 part 10, further referred to as 'AVC'). A summary of relevant news, including links to these preliminary terms: http://www.m4if.org/patents.

As in the past , the MPEG Industry Forum seeks to facilitate discussions in the market place and to catalyze feedback to the licensors. Past initiatives have been positively received by both potential licensees and licensors.

Because time is pressing, we have decided to not organize a physical meeting at this point, but to seek written feedback.

Below you will find a short set of questions that we would like to collect feedback on. MPEGIF will collate the answers, provide these to licensors, and make a summary available to participants and to the public.

Please respond by 29 January (extended deadline!), as follows:

By filling out this form (or the word version) and faxing or (e)mailing it to:
Paul Ritchie, Executive Director, MPEG Industry Forum
Bishop Ranch 6
2400 Camino Ramon, Suite 375
San Ramon, CA 94583, USA
Tel: +1 925 275 6654, Fax: +1 925 275 6691
Email: paul_dot_ritchie_at_mpegif_dot_org
Or by filling out the same online form here:
http://www.m4if.org/patents/AVC-survey.php.

Our main objective is to communicate the results to licensors and their agents. Receiving well-founded qualitative feedback (the free text boxes) is very important. Your response will be treated as confidential, and made anonymous if you so desire, although in the summary we may keep your characterization of the business you are in. In keeping with anti-trust rules, we are not seeking consensus. Of course, if many people are of the same opinion, this will become apparent in the summary.

In answering these questions, it is very important that you be as precise as possible in your feedback. Please explain your answers, if necessary referring to the precise elements of the proposed licensing terms.

Many thanks in advance for your cooperation, and with kind regards, on behalf of MPEGIF's Board of Directors,

Rob Koenen,
President MPEGIF (rob_dot_koenen_at_mpegif_dot_org)

Questions on AVC Licensing

Company / Organization:
Name:
2. In publishing the results, we will not directly link respondent (company) names to answers, but we would like to list your participation if you agree. Please choose one of the following:
You can list this company/organization as a respondent
Please do not list my company/organization

What part of the industry do you represent: (mark all that apply)
Service Operator
Technology Vendor
Other, please specify:
What application of AVC are you focussed on? (tick all that apply)
Broadcast (Satellite)
Broadcast (Terrestrial)
Streaming
Packaged Media
Wireless
ConsumerElectronics
Other, please specify:
Are you considering using AVC?
No (please briefly explain why not)
Yes (please briefly describe, as far as you can reveal this information, for what product(s)/service(s) and the approximate deployment date

Would your use of AVC require you or your company to be licensed?
Yes
No (e.g., because someone else will be licensed - please briefly explain)
I don't know
Not applicable as I won't be using AVC myself (if so please state your interest below)
Comments:

Do you believe that the licensing terms, conditions and other aspects are sufficiently clear to enable adoption of AVC?
yes
no
Please provide comments explaining your answer:

Do you believe that the licensing model(s) as proposed suit your needs?
yes
The models are OK, but the terms themselves require further consideration
No
Please provide comments explaining your answer; address relevant markets and licensing elements as appropriate, and mention both strong and weak points as you see them:

Do you believe that the licensing model(s) as proposed suit the needs of the market?
yes
The models are OK, but the terms themselves require further consideration
No
Please provide comments explaining your answer. Address relevant markets and licensing elements as appropriate, and mention both strong and weak points as you see them: