IN THE NEWS (Archive)

Joint Patent License for ATSC Digital Television Technology Makes Progress
MPEG LA Holds First Patent Holders Meeting
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 18 July 2005) - MPEG LA convened a meeting of essential ATSC digital television patent holders in Chicago on June 28 to begin the process to determine joint licensing terms. Parties with patents determined by MPEG LA's patent experts to be essential to the ATSC digital television standard ("standard") were invited to participate.
Full news release here

MPEG LA to Open Office in Shanghai, PRC
New office will serve the emerging China market
(Denver, Colorado, US - 10 May 2005) - MPEG LA, which pioneered one-stop technology patent licensing services worldwide, today announced that MPEG LA (UK) Ltd. will open an office in Shanghai, PRC. The Shanghai office will establish an everyday presence that will allow MPEG LA not only to serve and build stronger relationships with its large and growing customer base in China but also to develop new relationships and new customers going forward. To this point MPEG LA has been ably assisted by Maryland Center China in Shanghai and will continue to call upon them for assistance.
Full news release here

OMA DRM Patent Holders Revise Terms of MPEG LA License
Final License Agreement to Issue Soon
(Denver, Colorado, USA, 12 April 2005) − MPEG LA announced today that the initial group of OMA DRM 1.0 essential patent holders have revised the terms of a joint patent portfolio license to be offered by MPEG LA for use of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) DRM 1.0 specification. The group consists of ContentGuard Holdings, Inc., Intertrust Technologies Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., and Sony Corporation. The revisions are responsive to feedback from the market following MPEG LA's announcement of proposed license terms on January 6, 2005 (www.mpegla.com/news/n_05-01-06_drm.pdf). MPEG LA and the OMA DRM 1.0 Patent Portfolio License are not affiliated with the OMA; nor was the OMA DRM 1.0 Patent Portfolio License initiated by the OMA. Rather, the OMA DRM 1.0 Patent Portfolio License has been established by MPEG LA for the convenience of OMA DRM 1.0 adopters as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses with individual patent owners.
Full news release here

Sagem Enters into MPEG-2 License with MPEG LA
Patent Infringement Actions Against Sagem Concluded
DENVER – March 23, 2005 – MPEG LA today announced that Sagem S.A. has become a Licensee to MPEG LA's MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License and that the patent infringement actions announced in a 3 May 2004 press release (http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_04-05-03_sagem.pdf) have concluded.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Opening of Tokyo Office
New branch will better serve customers in Asia
(Tokyo, Japan – 18 February 2005) – MPEG LA today officially opened its MPEG LA (UK) Ltd. Office in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo office is one more step towards MPEG LA providing customer service and liaison to MPEG LA's many customers in Asia. MPEG LA pioneered one-stop technology patent licensing services worldwide and has a large current customer base in the Asia region.
Full news release here

MPEG LA to Expand AVC Patent Portfolio License Coverage
Royalty rates to remain the same
(Denver, Colorado, US – 27 January 2005) – In order to meet emerging marketplace needs, MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it plans to expand the AVC Patent Portfolio License to include coverage of AVC Fidelity Range Extensions ("FRExt/AVC"), which were recently added to the AVC/H.264 video standard (ISO/IEC IS14496-10). For the convenience of licensees, the current royalty rates provided under the AVC Patent Portfolio License would remain the same and would continue to apply whether one or more AVC profiles (including FRExt/AVC) is used. The amended license, expected to issue in March 2005, would cover both existing and future licensees.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Issues Revised License for DVB-T
Changes meet emerging market conditions
(Denver, Colorado, US – 24 January 2005) – MPEG LA, LLC announced today that it has issued a revised DVB-T Patent Portfolio License. The new License will provide uninterrupted coverage to current Licensees and coverage to new Licensees under patents that are essential to the DVB-T Standard (European Telecommunications Standardization Institute ("ETSI") document ETS300744) adopted for use in digital terrestrial television broadcasting in Europe, India, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces OMA DRM Patent License Terms
(Denver, Colorado, USA, 6 January 2005) − MPEG LA announced today that an initial group of essential patent holders including ContentGuard Holdings, Inc., Intertrust Technologies Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., and Sony Corporation have reached tentative agreement on the terms of a joint patent portfolio license to be offered by MPEG LA for use of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) DRM 1.0 specification. The companies were convened in response to MPEG LA's call for essential patents [http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_04-07-20_drm.pdf]. The proposed OMA DRM Patent Portfolio License is expected to cover products that use the OMA DRM 1.0 specification, as well as those which use both OMA DRM 1.0 and 2.0.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Plan for DVB-H Patent License
Call for Essential Patents is First Step
(Denver, Colorado, USA − 22 December 2004) − MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in one-stop technology standards patent licensing, today issued a call for patents that are essential to the DVB-H standard, a specification of the DVB Project and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) for carrying multimedia services over digital terrestrial broadcast networks to handheld terminals. The purpose of the call is to begin a process of evaluating and determining patents that are essential for the DVB-H Standard in order to include them in a joint patent portfolio license providing users with fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to this technology. A summary of the MPEG LA plan with reference to the DVB-H standard is attached. DVB-H builds on the (DVB Project/ETSI) DVB-T digital terrestrial television transmission standard for which MPEG LA already offers a patent portfolio license.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Plan for ATSC Patent License
Call for Essential Patents is First Step
(Denver, Colorado, USA − 22 December 2004) − MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in one-stop technology standards patent licensing, today issued a call for patents that are essential to the ATSC digital television standard, which has been adopted thus far in the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Argentina and Mexico. The purpose of the call is to begin a process of evaluating and determining patents that are essential for the ATSC Standard in order to include them in a joint patent portfolio license providing users with fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to this technology. A summary of the MPEG LA plan with reference to the ATSC standard is attached.
Full news release here

MPEG LA to Hold Seminar in China for CAIA Member Companies on October 21
(Chevy Chase, Maryland, US – 18 October 2004) – MPEG LA, LLC is pleased to announce that it will conduct a seminar "MPEG-2 Technology and China's DVD Industry" for the China Audio Industry Association (CAIA) and its member companies on Thursday 21 October 2004 in Shanghai's Jingjiang Grand Hall.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Issues Call for Essential Patents Covering OMA DRM 2.0
Updated DRM Reference Model 3.0 covers emerging mobile technology
(Denver, Colorado, USA, 23 September 2004) - MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in one-stop technology platform patent licensing, today issued DRM Reference Model 3.0 specifically covering the Open Mobile Alliance’s OMA DRM 2.0 standard (“OMA DRM 2.0”) and a call for patents that are essential to DRM Reference Model v 3.0 including OMA DRM 2.0. DRM refers to digital rights management technology.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Issues Revised License for MPEG-4 Part 2 Visual  
Changes meet emerging market conditions
(Denver, Colorado, US – 20 September 2004) – MPEG LA, LLC today issued the revised MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License for the MPEG-4 Visual (Part 2) Standard. The revisions were outlined in a press release in April 2004 (see http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_04-04-29_m4v.pdf); the revised License retains many of the same terms as the old License but is simpler for both manufacturers and video providers to apply.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Issues DRM Reference Model 2.0, Calls for Essential Patents Covering OMA DRM 1.0 and Internet Music Distribution
Updated DRM Reference Model and call for patents to cover key emerging technologies
(Denver, Colorado, USA, 20 July 2004) - MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in one-stop technology platform patent licensing, today issued DRM Reference Model 2.0, specifically covering the Open Mobile Alliance’s OMA DRM 1.0 standard (“OMA DRM 1.0”).
Full news release here

MPEG LA Releases AVC Patent Portfolio License
(Denver, Colorado, US – 15 July 2004) – MPEG LA today announced the availability of the AVC Patent Portfolio License. Copies of the License may be obtained at www.mpegla.com, “AVC”, “The License Agreement”.
Full news release here

Correction to May 18, 2004 News Release Titled "MPEG LA Announces Final AVC/H.264 License Terms"
(Denver, Colorado, US – 20 May 2004) – MPEG LA today issued a correction to its May 18, 2004 press release announcing final terms of license to be included in the AVC Patent Portfolio License http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_04-05-18_avc.pdf. The correction is to part 2 of the Attachment to the May 18, 2004 news release referring to Participation Fees (Where End User pays directly for AVC Video) for Subscription AVC Video. In the case of Subscription AVC Video, the 100,000 annual subscriber no-royalty threshold will not be limited to one legal entity in an affiliated group. The corrected Attachment is appended.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Final AVC/H.264 License Terms
Final License Agreement to Issue in June
(Denver, Colorado, US – 18 May 2004) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced that AVC essential patent holders have agreed on final terms of license to be included in the AVC Patent Portfolio License (“License”) scheduled to issue in June. While many of the terms will be the same as those announced in a November 17 press release (http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_03-11-17_avc.html), there are some changes.
Full news release here

LEADING ELECTRONICS COMPANIES SUE SAGEM S.A. FOR MPEG-2 PATENT INFRINGEMENT
DENVER – May 3, 2004 – MPEG LA today announced that several leading electronics companies have filed suit in Düsseldorf, Germany against Sagem Société d'Applications Générales d'Electricité et de Mécanique S.A. (“SAGEM”) for infringing eleven patents that are essential to the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard, which is used worldwide in digital television broadcasting and DVD. Included among the plaintiffs are Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Sony Corporation, Thomson Licensing S.A., and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC).
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Revisions to License for MPEG-4 (Part 2) Visual
Alternative License to Issue
(Denver, Colorado, US – 29 April 2004) – MPEG LA, LLC announced today that patent holders to the MPEG-4 Visual (Part 2) Patent Portfolio License (“License”) have agreed on changes to the License to meet emerging market conditions. The MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License, which issued in November 2002, now has more than 115 Licensees representing a wide spectrum of users (see http://www.mpegla.com for a list of Licensees in good standing). Current Licensees will be given the option to retain their current License or elect the revised License. While retaining many of the same terms as the current License, the revised License, which is expected to issue this summer, will simplify application of the License for both manufacturers and video providers.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Plan for Joint VC-9 Patent License
Call for Essential Patents is First Step
(Denver, Colorado, USA, 26 March 2004) MPEG LA, LLC today announced a plan for providing fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory worldwide access to patents that are essential to “Proposed Standard VC-9 Submitted to SMPTE Technology Committee C24” (2004-03-19), a/k/a “Proposed SMPTE Standard for Television: VC-9 Compressed Video Bitstream Format and Decoding Process,” as it may be amended (“VC-9 Specification”). A summary of the MPEG LA plan is attached. The first step calls for those with patents that they believe are essential to the VC-9 Specification to submit them for an evaluation of essentiality by independent patent experts. An initial group of patent holders whose patents are determined to be essential will be convened within 30-45 days to begin considering terms of a joint license, but the process will remain open and submissions will continue to be welcome.
Full news release here

Japan Broadcasters Adopt AVC/H.264 Video Coding
for Mobile Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting
Accord Reached with MPEG LA on Patent Licensing Terms
Tokyo March 24--In a joint press conference with MPEG LA today, Japan broadcasters NHK, TBS, NTV, TV Asahi, Fuji TV and TV Tokyo announce their adoption of AVC/H.264 Video Coding for mobile segment digital terrestrial broadcasting.  A basic agreement is also announced between the broadcasters and MPEG LA on royalties and other terms of license under essential patents owned by many parties to be offered as part of a joint license.
Full news release here

Joint Patent License for DRM Technology Makes Progress
MPEG LA Holds First Patent Holders Meeting
(Denver, Colorado, USA, 15 March 2004) MPEG LA, LLC convened a first meeting of essential digital rights management (DRM) patent holders in New York City on March 3 to consider terms of a joint patent license. DRM generally refers to technologies for managing and protecting the authorized use of digital content. Parties with patents determined by MPEG LA’s patent experts to be essential to DRM as described in DRM Reference Model v 1.0 were invited to participate in this initial meeting; other parties who submit patents found to be essential also will be invited to join.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Sues Apex Digital, Inc. for Breach of MPEG-2 License Agreement
Suit Alleges Under-Reporting and Failure to Comply With Audit
(Denver, Colorado, US – 29 January 2004) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it has sued Apex Digital, Inc. (“Apex Digital”), a manufacturer and supplier of DVD players, for breach of its contractual obligations under the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License (“Contract”) that Apex Digital entered into with MPEG LA. The lawsuit alleges that Apex Digital has breached the Contract by (1) failing to report fully its use of MPEG-2 patents; (2) failing to pay the royalty payments due for the use of those patents; and (3) failing to provide an auditor with all of the documents required by the Contract for a complete audit to independently determine Apex Digital’s compliance with the Contract. The suit notes that Apex Digital’s reports of product sales to MPEG LA are not consistent with public reports of Apex Digital’s sales of those products.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Terms of Joint H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Patent License
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 17 November 2003) MPEG LA today announced that essential H.264/MPEG-4 AVC patent and patent application holders have reached agreement on the terms of a joint patent license for implementation and use of ITU-T H.264 and MPEG-4 Part 10 AVC (“AVC Standard”).
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Plan for Joint Patent License for DRM Technology
DRM Reference Model and Call for Essential DRM Patents Represent First Step
(Denver, Colorado, USA, 2 October 2003) MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in one-stop technology platform patent licensing, today issued a call for patents that are essential to digital rights management technology (DRM) as described in DRM Reference Model v 1.0. DRM refers to technologies for managing the authorized use of digital content. The purpose of the DRM Reference Model is to begin a process of evaluating and determining patents that are essential for DRM in order to provide users with convenient, fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to a portfolio of essential worldwide patent rights under a single license. DRM products and services are emerging. By providing the foundation for a patent portfolio license, the DRM Model will offer the marketplace the ability to make available these new and innovative products and services whose development and deployment might otherwise be inhibited. A patent portfolio license will accelerate market development by providing ready access to the essential technology; it also will be of assistance to DRM standards initiatives. A summary of the MPEG LA plan is in Attachment 1.
Full news release here

Joint Patent License for H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Continues to Advance
MPEG LA and Essential Intellectual Property Owners to Meet Twice in September
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 11 September 2003) MPEG LA and essential H.264/MPEG-4 AVC patent and patent application holders met again on July 31-August 1 in New York City. Progress continues to be made on the framework of a joint patent license, and the group remains committed to reaching agreement on joint license terms during the fourth quarter 2003. The group will meet by telephone in mid-September and again in Tokyo on September 30-October 1.
Full news release here

Development of Joint Patent License for H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Makes Progress
Meeting of Essential Patent Holders Convened by MPEG LA Puts License on Fast Track
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 7 July 2003) MPEG LA convened a meeting of essential H.264/MPEG-4 AVC patent and patent application holders in Washington, DC on June 23 and June 24 to begin the process of determining joint licensing terms. Parties with patents or patent applications determined by MPEG LA’s patent experts to be essential to the H.264/AVC standard (“standard”) were invited to participate.
Full news release here

First Meeting of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Essential Patent Holders to be Held June 23-24
MPEG LA Also Welcomes the Submission of Essential Patent Applications
(Denver, Colorado, US - 13 June 2003) - MPEG LA today announced that it will convene the first meeting of essential H.264/MPEG-4 AVC patent holders on June 23-24, 2003, to begin the process of determining joint licensing terms and the selection of a licensing administrator in order to make this technology easily accessible to all users. Patents were submitted by 18 parties for a determination of essentiality to the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC standard [ITU-T Recommendation H.264 (H.264), Geneva May 2003, and Final Draft International Standard of ISO/IEC 14496-10 (MPEG-4 Part 10 or AVC), Pattaya March 2003], and independent patent experts have determined that at least 16 own essential patents, with evaluations still under way.
Full news release here

MPEG LA to Hold MPEG-4 License Information Session at Hyatt Regency O’Hare on March 27
(Denver, Colorado, US – 14 March 2003) – On Thursday March 27, 2003, MPEG LA will hold a public information session for all interested parties on the MPEG-4 Visual and Systems Patent Portfolio Licenses at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare (O’Hare International Airport, Rosemont, IL, ohare.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml).
Full news release here

MPEG LA Resolves Apex Lawsuit
(Denver, Colorado, US – 10 March 2003) – MPEG LA is pleased to report that the action it filed against Apex Digital Inc. for failure to pay royalties was amicably resolved at the end of 2002. Apex has paid all amounts due as reflected in its royalty reports, and the fact that the matter could be resolved in such an expeditious fashion is a credit to Apex, and will benefit both Apex and MPEG LA in the future.
Full news release here

MPEG LA to Hold MPEG-4 License Information Meeting at Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre on 19 March
(Denver, Colorado, US – 5 March 2003) – On Wednesday 19 March 2003, MPEG LA will hold a public information meeting concerning the MPEG-4 Visual and Systems Patent Portfolio Licenses in Amsterdam, The Netherlands at the Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre (www.amsterdam-citycentre.crowneplaza.com)
Full news release here

MPEG LA to Hold MPEG-4 License Information Meeting at Shilla Seoul on 12 February
(Denver, Colorado, US – 5 February 2003) – On Wednesday 12 February 2003, MPEG LA will hold a public information meeting concerning the MPEG-4 Visual and Systems Patent Portfolio Licenses in the Ruby Room of the Shilla Seoul.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Releases MPEG-4 Systems Patent Portfolio License
(Denver, Colorado, US – 4 February 2003) – MPEG LA today announced the availability of the MPEG-4 Systems Patent Portfolio License.
Full news release here

MPEG LA to Hold MPEG-4 License Information Meeting at Hotel Okura Tokyo on 10 February
(Denver, Colorado, US – 30 January 2003) – On Monday 10 February 2003, MPEG LA will hold a public information meeting concerning the MPEG-4 Visual and Systems Patent Portfolio Licenses in the Maple Room of the Hotel Okura Tokyo.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Extends Call for Initial Submission of Essential H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Patents
Initial Submissions Now Requested By April 4, 2003
(Denver, Colorado, US – 24 January 2003) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it has extended until April 4, 2003, the initial period during which patent holders who believe they own patents that are essential to the proposed JVT/AVC Standard may submit them for an evaluation of essentiality by independent patent experts for the purpose of forming a joint AVC Patent Portfolio License.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Releases MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License
(Denver, Colorado, US – 25 November 2002) – MPEG LA today announced the availability of the MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License. Copies of the License may be obtained at www.mpegla.com, “MPEG-4 Visual,” “The License Agreement,” by telephone +1-301-986-6660 ext. 208 or email mpeters@mpegla.com. For more information, see “MPEG-4 Visual” at www.mpegla.com.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Extends Call for Initial Submission of Essential H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Patents
Initial Submissions Requested By January 31, 2003
(Denver, Colorado, US – 29 October 2002) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it has extended until January 31, 2003, the initial period during which patent holders who believe they own patents that are essential to the proposed JVT/AVC Standard may submit them for an evaluation of essentiality by independent patent experts for the purpose of forming a joint AVC Patent Portfolio License. MPEG LA first announced an initial call for patent submissions in a news release dated 11 September 2002 [see www.mpegla.com/news/n_02-09-11_jvt.html].
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Plan for Licensing of Essential H.264 JVT/MPEG-4 AVC Patents
Call for Submission of Patents for Evaluation by Independent Patent Experts is First Step
(Denver, Colorado, US - 11 September 2002) – MPEG LA, LLC makes the following worldwide announcement of a plan aimed at providing fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory worldwide access under a single license to patents that are essential for implementing the digital video compression standard to be known as ITU-T H.264 and ISO/IEC 14496-10 (“Proposed JVT/AVC Standard”). The first step in the plan calls for those with patents that they believe are essential to the Proposed JVT/AVC Standard (as more specifically described below) to submit them for an evaluation of essentiality by independent patent experts.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Sues Apex Digital, Inc. for Breach of MPEG-2 License Agreement
Apex Fails to Pay Millions in Royalties; Suit Seeks Damages and Injunction
(Denver, Colorado, US – 08 August 2002) – MPEG LA, LLC, which licenses a portfolio of patents that are essential to use of the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard, has sued Apex Digital, Inc. (“Apex Digital”), a manufacturer and supplier of DVD players, for breach of its contractual obligations under the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License (“Contract”) that Apex Digital entered into with MPEG LA. Apex Digital has failed to pay millions of dollars in royalties for its products as required by the Contract.
Full news release here

Final Terms of MPEG-4 Visual and Systems Patent Portfolio Licenses Decided
License Agreements to Issue in September
(Denver, Colorado, US – 15 July 2002) – MPEG LA and patent holders to the MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License, MPEG-4 Systems (without MPEG-J) Patent Portfolio License and MPEG-J Patent Portfolio License reached agreement on final licensing terms following their meetings in San Francisco on June 25 – 26, 2002. In the interest of one-stop convenience, users will be offered the opportunity to sign up for a license under patents that are essential for any or all of these standards. The official licenses are scheduled to issue in September.
Full news release here

MPEG-4 Visual Essential Patent Holders Meet to Discuss Licensing Terms
(Denver, Colorado, US – 24 April 2002) – MPEG LA and patent holders to the proposed MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License met on April 18 and 19 in New York City. They continue to discuss licensing terms and consider the constructive views, interests and concerns of prospective licensees.
Full news release here

Statement Concerning MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License
(Denver, Colorado, US – 28 March 2002) – MPEG LA, LLC today issued the following statement regarding the status of the MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License: On January 31, 2002, MPEG LA announced that it will offer fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to patents (owned by 18 companies) that are essential to the MPEG-4 Visual (Simple and Core) digital compression standard under a single license to be known as the MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License and provided an initial overview of the proposed license terms. The actual license agreement is still in development, however, and all terms are subject to change.
Full news release here

Terms of MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License Announced
(Denver, Colorado, US - 31 January 2002) - MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it will offer fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory, worldwide access to patents that are essential to the MPEG-4 Visual (Simple and Core) digital compression standard under a single license to be known as the MPEG-4 (Visual) Patent Portfolio License ("License").
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces M4IF Plan for Joint Licensing of Essential MPEG-4 Patents
(Denver, Colorado, US-14 November 2001) - The MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF) has recommended that MPEG LA, LLC make the following worldwide announcement:
In furtherance of its plan aimed at providing fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory worldwide access under one license to patents that are essential for implementing the international MPEG-4 Visual Standard, the MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF) has recommended that MPEG LA, LLC, in its role as Evaluation Administrator, call for the submission of patents for evaluation of their essentiality to additional MPEG-4 Visual Standard profiles, specifically Simple Scalable, Advanced Simple, and Fine Granularity Scalable.
Full news release here

MPEG-4 Visual Essential Patent Holders Report Substantial Progress Toward a Joint License
(Denver, Colorado, US - 3 July 2001) - MPEG LA, LLC, which operates as facilitator for an initial group of 19 essential patent holders calling itself the M4VisualPHG, reports that substantial progress was made toward the creation of a joint MPEG-4 Visual (Simple and Core profiles) patent license at the group's meeting in San Jose, California on June 19 and 20.
Full news release here

DVB-T Joint Patent Licensing Program to Begin  (Denver, CO US-July 3, 2001) MPEG LA today announced the commencement of a new licensing program, DVB LA^SM, for the joint licensing of patents essential to the terrestrial digital television standard known as DVB-T.
Full news release here

Leading Global Electronics Companies and University Sue Compaq for MPEG-2 Patent Infringement in U.S. and Germany   This article may be found here .

MPEG LA^®  Announces M4IF Plan for Licensing of Essential MPEG-4 Systems Patents  This article may be found here .

"MPEG LA^® Announces M4IF Plan for Joint Licensing of Essential MPEG-4 Patents" This article may be found here .

"MPEG LA^® Hails 200th Licensee; Digital Video Set-Top Box and Consumer Electronics Products Covered Worldwide" This article by Business Wire's Business Editors, Technology Writers may be found here .

"Piggybacking on the creation of a successful patent pool for MPEG-2 video and its oversight by a licensing body, a spinoff of the MPEG LA^® licensing group, called 1394la, has taken on a similar challenge of implementing a joint licensing program for patents essential to the IEEE 1394 digital interface." The entire article, "Group formed to oversee 1394 patent licensing" by Junko Yoshida may be found here . 

An article appearing June 30, 1997 in The New York Times (by Sabra Chartrand) reports the Federal Justice Department's allowance of a consortium of eight companies and one university to unify administration of 27 MPEG-2 patents. According to Bill Brooks, spokesman for the Justice Department, "It's the first statement we have made on patent pooling. . . definitely a first in recent history, and likely a first on patent pooling."

An article appearing July 14, 1997 in Multimedia Week reports DVD manufacturers will have to pay MPEG-2 royalties if patent pool's claims set forth by the MPEG licensing Administrator LLC (LA) are enforced by any of the companies participating in the patent pool. Ken Rubenstein, lead attorney for MPEG LA^®, said the company would not take legal action against manufacturers who "choose not to take a license" but acknowledge that individual patent holders might. "We're not going to sue anybody for patent infringements if they don't pay," he said. "Companies will have to decide if they want to go unlicensed and take the risk inherent in that. MPEG LA^® as an individual entity won't be that heavy." MPEG LA represents Columbia University and nine companies laying claim to 29 essential patents covering MPEG-2 video. Rubenstein said those companies hold about 80 percent of the essential MPEG-2 patents but acknowledge that other patents might be added to the pool at a later date. He said Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU) is considering joining the patent pool. MPEG LA^® hopes to get Toshiba and Samsung on board as well, bringing the total number of patents in the pool to 33.

An article appearing July 7, 1997 in Consumer Electronics reported the Justice Department (DOJ) gave antitrust clearance to one-stop shopping patent MPEG-2 licensing pool proposed by a group of 8 companies and Columbia University. The patents will be licensed in a single package, administered by the US-based agency MPEG LA^®. Besides Columbia, patent pool participants include Fujitsu, General Instrument, Lucent Technologies, Matsushita, Mitsubishi, Philips, Scientific-Atlanta, Sony. A DOJ spokesman said using an independent expert "will help ensure that the portfolio will contain only patents that are truly essential to the MPEG-2 standard, weeding out patents that are competitive alternatives to each other."