[vorbis] Here is a link to what they say about "Other Formats"

[Tom Bishop]

I give it a year..  but maybe not..  seems like they would wait
until it released at least.. ;-)

Thompson (who FhG brought in to collect the fees) has 
plenty of time.

The courts will probably be full of this for years.

But that is precisely what corp. sponsors are for as far as
I would understand it..  The IP issues are NOT going away.
That's what it is ALL about.  

I was glad to hear that Vorbis has already applied for.. (gotten?)
patents on their technology (in multiple countries?).

Assuming "the papers" are in order, Thompson doesn't have
a case... it is not that much to fight, and well worth it given the
revenues at stake.

I do not, in any way, think that "threats of legal attack" is a reason
to not look for sponsors.. I think it is PRECISELY
the reason you MUST seek some heavyweights.. 
iCast  was a startup.. There are already established corps
out there that do have weight, that stand to save much money
"if you are successful".

I think the bigger problem is that Vorbis doesn't save a corporation
money if, for market reasons, they must support MP3 anyway.. and
this is the case for many.  Most large corporations dealing with
this type of technology MUST support MP3, since it is already
so popular....  they have no option..  the question is not either/or,
they WILL pay Thompson  (or litigate perhaps).

The fact is, if you read the licensing terms, Thompson charges
less... (1/2 price!!!) if one makes MP3 the "default setting" for an 
encoder.....  Soooo companies who MUST support MP3 are 
also VERY incentivized to make it the default... it is a 
vicious circle... arrrrggggg!

To companies who must support MP3, 
Vorbis is mostly "yet another thing to do..."

Game companies were one category mentioned.. 
since they choose one format. ..I'm sure there are others. 
IMHO, in the future there will be a number.

..there is certainly room in the world for 
    a royalty free codec.... ;-)

Tom

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Firelight Multimedia" <support at fmod.org>
To: <vorbis at xiph.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 5:10 AM
Subject: Re: [vorbis] Here is a link to what they say about "Other Formats"

> Why would anyone want to be a corporate sponsor for ogg vorbis? so the
> oggvorbis people can have someone else to get sued and not themselves?
> If i was a corporation i wouldnt touch it with a big stick.
> sales pitch - 'please sponsor us, oh and expect lawsuits within the next
> month or 2' ..
> :)
> Brett.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Aleksandar Dovnikovic" <aldov at eunet.yu>
> To: <vorbis at xiph.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 11:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [vorbis] Here is a link to what they say about "Other Formats"
> 
> 
> > "David Mitchell" <mitchell at ucar.edu> wrote:
> >
> > > "We doubt very much that they are not using Fraunhofer and
> > > Thomson intellectual property," Linde said. "We think it is
> > > likely they are infringing."
> > >
> > > So, the project is definitly on their radar. Whether or not Linde
> > > believes what he's saying is another story. It's clearly intended
> > > as FUD to keep companies from adopting Vorbis. He's also carefull
> > > to use phrases like "We doubt" and "We think" which keep his
> > > claims from running afoul of libel laws.
> >
> > That is why I think it is important to have corporate sponsors,
> > because if you don't have them, FhG & Thomson MM will be
> > more encouraged to attack Vorbis (it doesn't matter much
> > whether it is founded or not - just dragging through the courts
> > will be painful enough). I'm 100% sure that without corporate
> > sponsors FhG & Thomson will try to destroy Vorbis.
> >
> >
> > Greetings,
> > Aleksandar
> >
> >
> >
> > --- >8 ----
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> >
> 
> 
> --- >8 ----
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