MP3 Licencing, who's bothered to read this?

farss wrote on 8/28/2006, 11:31 PM
To quote from the Vegas Licence page re mp3:
"MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson.
Supply of this product does not convey a license nor imply any right to distribute content created with this product in revenue generating broadcast systems (terrestrial, satellite, cable and/or other distribution channels), streaming applications (via internet, intranets and/or other networks), other content distribution systems (pay-audio or audio on demand applications and the like) or on physical media (compact discs, digital versatile discs, semiconductor chips, hard drives, memory cards and the like). An independent license for such use is required. "

The last section regarding physical media is a worry. This would also explain perhaps why DVDA doesn't support mp3?


Bob.

Comments

Steve Mann wrote on 8/29/2006, 12:46 AM
Well, it raises questions.

But, DVDA doesn't support MP3, probably because the DVD spec doesn't support MP3.

Steve M.
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 8/29/2006, 8:23 AM
that puts a solid hole in the statement that this is designed to be a professional software when you're not licensed to use this for moneymaking audio :P

Dave
kkolbo wrote on 8/29/2006, 8:31 AM
It is the same for MPEG. You must pay a fee per disc to the MPEGLA. You either do that directly or through the replicator. This is standard for professionals.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 8/29/2006, 8:40 AM
the mp3 liscencing has been like that since Vegas 5. Vegas 4 didn't have that clause. So, yes, legally you can make mp3's for commercial use in V4 but not 5/6. Stupid IMHO. We pay $$ for a liscence (we DO need to register it sepertly) but I've got several mp3 compression codec's for free with other software (CDex for one). Just use ogg instead. :)

I don't belive the mpeg1/2 has that clause though, just the mp3. The annoying part is you can't find the EULA in your Sony folder's anywhere. And I don't see them on the website. Only in the manual & on install.
farss wrote on 8/29/2006, 2:32 PM
From memory there's been a dispute over the legality of the other 'free' mp3 encoders plus I believe the one that ships with Vegas is considered to produce the highest quality output.

Regardless though as someone who produces mp3 audio for commercial sale this is a bit of a shock to the system. I'm hoping all I need to do is pay more for a licence upgrade although it seems that a fee is payable per unit sale and that sucks, not so much the money as the admin issues. I deliver a master to the client and then have to tell them they have to pay company xyz so much per disk.

Bob.
RalphM wrote on 8/29/2006, 5:32 PM
MPEG? You mean I'm supposed to pay a license fee for every DVD I provide to a customer? One or two copies of their home movies, etc?

farss wrote on 8/30/2006, 12:21 AM
As far as I know, NO.

You can make a DVD without a licence, you can sell a DVD without a licence. It's only if you want to use the official DVD logo on your product that you have to pay.
If you want Macrovision you also have to pay.
Probably if you're making 10K copies for a blockbuster you wouldn't think twice about paying those fees.

Bob.
Kanst wrote on 8/30/2006, 1:56 PM
Just use free Lame coder (with RazorLame GUI or a PowerPack Lame mp3 plugIn for Nero) - it give better quality and faster, then SonicFoundry mp3 coder.
And don't read more license agreements, less know - better sleep!