Re: LAME codec library

While you may wish to check with the patent holders, certainly if you 
expect a wide distribution, it appears that you are unlikely to incur 
any fees for freeware. At rarewares.org, we have been distributing the 
executables, free, for many years without any contact whatsoever from 
the patent holders.

The patent holders are only interested in those who sell encoders and 
decoders, or so it would seem.

The above is based upon experience and not on any legal knowledge or 
correspondence with the patent holders. In reality, some of the patents 
have already expired and I believe the remainder will expire between now 
and the end of 2017.

Hope that helps.

John

On 06/07/2014 06:10, Mike Brown wrote:
> Edouard de Sauvage wrote:
>> we are reviewing the licenses needed in order to use the
>> MP3 and AAC formats.
>>
>> We were planning to use the LAME library which include these formats
>
> Well, one of the formats.
>
>> Are the licensing fees for these formats also required for freeware,
>
> Distributing MP3 and AAC encoders (i.e. the libraries or executable apps, in
> their compiled, usable form rather than source code) requires a license. The
> owners of the relevant patents can ask for whatever they want in exchange for
> a license...and they certainly aren't known for their charity.
>
> That's why Winamp has always had a paid version with extra features; the small
> percentage of users who pay for it are subsidizing the licenses for themselves
> and everyone who sticks with the free version. (Presumably, that is...maybe
> the paid users didn't fully cover the bill, and other sources of income had to
> be used.)
>
> Here's the MP3 encoder licensing info:
> http://www.mp3licensing.com/royalty/software.html
>
> And here's the AAC info:
> http://www.vialicensing.com/licensing/aac-fees.aspx
>
> You can always ask them to cut you a deal, of course. I'd be interested to
> know if you have any luck with that!
>
> The LAME project avoids these issues by only distributing source code rather
> than working, compiled DLLs and EXEs. It is assumed that people who use LAME
> have either built the DLL or EXE themselves, or obtained it from a licensed
> distributor of compiled code.
>
> I'm not speaking on behalf of the LAME project; I'm just an interested user
> of both Winamp and LAME.
>
> Mike
>
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Quickly connect people, data, and systems into organized workflows
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