Please email any questions you have to our Q&A Department.

Q:What does the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License cover?
A: The MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License provides coverage for the MPEG-2 Systems standard as specified in ISO documents IS 13818-1 (including annexes C, D, F, J and K) in products without licensed MPEG-2 video encoders or decoders.

Q: Who are the essential patent holders (“Licensors”) to the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License?
A: Click here.

Q: What are the obligations of the Licensors with regard to their essential MPEG-2 Systems Essential patents?
A. Each Licensor is under an obligation to grant to MPEG LA a worldwide, nonexclusive license under all MPEG-2 Systems Essential Patents that it has the right to license or sublicense presently or in the future (without payment to any third party), enabling MPEG LA to grant worldwide, nonexclusive sublicenses under such patents under terms of the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License.

Q: What is the effect on Licensees when new patents are added to the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License?
A: The royalties payable under the License do not increase or decrease because of an increase or decrease in the number of MPEG-2 Systems Essential Patents or because of an increase or decrease in the prices of a Licensee’s MPEG-2 Systems Royalty Products.  Rather, they are the value of a license granted under the Patent Portfolio taking into consideration the commercial intention of the Licensors to facilitate adoption of the MPEG-2 Systems Standard and make available a pool license in which royalties are the same whether one or more patents is used.  New Licensors and new patents are added with no increase in royalty rates during the current Term of the License.

Q: Are all MPEG-2 Systems essential patents included?
A: While Licensors are under an obligation to grant to MPEG LA a worldwide, nonexclusive license under allMPEG-2 Systems Essential Patents that it and its Affiliates presently or in the future has the right to license or sublicense, enabling MPEG LA to grant worldwide, nonexclusive sublicenses under terms of  the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License, no assurance is or can be made that the License includes every essential patent. The purpose of the License is to offer a convenient licensing alternative to everyone on the same terms and to include as much essential intellectual property as possible for their convenience. Participation in the License is voluntary on the part of essential patent holders, however.

Q: How may a patent holder become a Licensor to the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License?
A: Any party that believes it has patents which are essential to the MPEG-2 Systems Standard, and wishes to participate in the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License upon successful evaluation, is invited to submit them for evaluation and inclusion. Click here to request a copy of the terms and procedures governing the patent submission process.

Q: How many licenses does an MPEG-2 Systems user need?
A: It is up to each user to determine its own licensing needs and how it wishes to meet them. The MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License is provided for a user’s convenience in acquiring patent rights necessary for the MPEG-2 Systems Standard from multiple essential patent holders in a single transaction as an alternative to negotiating separate license agreements with individual Licensors. Users are free to negotiate directly with one or more Licensors for a separate license under one or more Essential Patents under independently negotiated terms, however. In addition, as discussed above, users who take MPEG LA’s license may have to negotiate licenses for essential patents that are not included. A license also may be necessary for other important patents (that are not essential to the MPEG-2 Systems standard).

Q: How is the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License organized?
A: Click here for information.

Q: What are the royalties for the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License?
A: Royalties apply as defined in the License. Click here for information.