OT: Everyone Here May Be Breaking The Law!

Jay Gladwell wrote on 3/30/2007, 8:31 AM

I just read on another forum that anyone who is using the MPEG formats for anything other than "personal and non-commercial" use is in violation of patent law, if they are not paying the required royalities.

That means if anyone is using an HDV camera or burning and distributing DVDs for anything other than home movies, they are breaking the law! (So much for those who claim they have never broken the law.)

Now what?

Either cough-up all those past due royalties and send them to the MPEGLA in Denver or shut down your business!


Comments

craftech wrote on 3/30/2007, 8:40 AM
Eventually the cheerleaders will start whistling another tune when they see that the very people they are defending are carrying all of this to extremes and then even the cheerleaders will feel the "reward" for their efforts where the sun don't shine.

John
Jay Gladwell wrote on 3/30/2007, 8:43 AM

LOL -- You got that, too, huh?

Logan5 wrote on 3/30/2007, 10:22 AM
Perhaps mepg2 amnesty: “A path to encode”
apit34356 wrote on 3/30/2007, 12:02 PM
"To make it easier for MPEG LA’s customers to account for their MPEG-2 Packaged Medium royalties, effective September 1, 2005, Licensees may elect a simplified option for reporting MPEG-2 Packaged Medium royalties under which they pay US $0.03 for each MPEG-2 video disc regardless of its specific content or playing time (except where the playing time is 12 minutes or less in which case the royalty would continue to be $0.01)."


So the answer appears to be that people producing DVDs for sale need a license and should pay $0.03 per disc.


Maybe the RIAA could follow the above example for >300 volume video DVD for music fees for weddings, sport events-HS, JR college, corp training. Exclude all info TV commericals, all major colleges...... and charge $0.50 per disk.
Per1 wrote on 3/30/2007, 1:01 PM
Don't know how it is in USA, but here you're hunted until you pay all of the regulated royalites. This must be valid in the US too. Otherwise, forward the address to the CD-manfact. that makes audio CDs without lic. and I'll happily do business with them...
JoeMess wrote on 3/30/2007, 1:20 PM
Guys,

Most duplication facilities put the license cost into the cost of each disc. The license you get with Vegas covers your encode and your local playback. Every DVD player carries a royalty burden for decode/playback. I used to manage the license relationship for a large chip maker and MPEG LA, and the DIVx folks as well. We are all pretty OK here. Your camera also already carries a royalty for encode and decode.

Joe
Per1 wrote on 3/30/2007, 2:38 PM
Partly true - the music industry controlls the use of music exclusively through int. soc. like GEMA, NCB, etc. They will gladly bill you.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 3/30/2007, 2:46 PM

Your camera also already carries a royalty for encode and decode.

For personal use, yes. But for "commercial" use...

TheHappyFriar wrote on 3/30/2007, 2:57 PM
But for "commercial" use...

We're going to federal prison. :(

Ever since Vegas 5 the EULA for the mpeg specifically requires a license fee. Really bummer IMHO. Stupid too.

And most us us don't use duplicators, we dup ourselves. Sure, it's pennies on the dollar, but there's nothing in the program saying "YOU NEED TO PAY ROYALTIES TO SELL THIS!!!" And before you say they don't warn us about everything we're reminded not to use Vegas to pirate music. :)
farss wrote on 3/30/2007, 4:15 PM
There is a page in the online help that covers licencing. The problem is not limited to the mpeg-2 encoder either, you're in the same boat with the mp3 encoder.

Bob.
RickD wrote on 3/30/2007, 4:46 PM
Not a problem for me. I only use MPEG for "personal and non-commercial" ripping of DVDs that I borrow from my friends and music that I download from Internet file sharing networks!
Serena wrote on 3/31/2007, 4:36 PM
>>>>We're going to federal prison. :( <<<<

Hey there, the USA is a rabidly capitalist society where the idea of "fair return on investment" is socialist propaganda. If indeed the fee due for various codecs isn't included in the cost of blank disks then you should pay up happily