MP3 Licensing - Socoder

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Socoder -> On Topic -> MP3 Licensing
Mon, 09 Jun 2014, 04:22
steve_ancell	Saw this on the AGK facebook group. Sean Mann Mp3licensing.com says if you use mp3 format you owe licensing. They make it pretty clear. If they think I'm paying them for using MP3 in a certain free-to-play game that I made, they can FRO!
Mon, 09 Jun 2014, 08:32
rockford	I totally agree. You can't even switch to other music formats - most of the time you can't guarantee they'll play on another user's machines. Grrrrrrrr. Perhaps we can promise to pay 10-20% commission of the profits of our free games?
Wed, 11 Jun 2014, 18:46
dna	I agree with you Kuron. I thought the patents expired or the format went free under the GPL. It's been used in Audacity for years and nothing has come of that company when they used the format. -=-=- DNA
Thu, 12 Jun 2014, 01:48
rockford	I don't know but THIS site lists when patents were granted for various reasons for the .MP3 format - eg transmission, encoding etc. According to THIS site patents are protected for 14-20 years. [REMEMBER] These sites are on the internet and may not have ANY baring of truth attached to them! It looks like the last granting of any patents was 1999, so some may well have expired, but others not. If you release an app that contains an .MP3 in countries where the patent is still valid, I suppose you would have to pay license costs. Dunno.
Thu, 12 Jun 2014, 04:17
steve_ancell	Someone on the AGK group contacted MP3 Licensing, who claim that we have to pay Â£2500 per title, but I wouldn't be surprised if that organisation is just a subdivision of the patent troll, Lodsys.
Fri, 13 Jun 2014, 04:42
Krakatomato	I personally wouldn't worry about it. "Do I need a license to use mp3 in games? Yes. Games using mp3 encoded content are licensed on a per-title basis. However, no license fees are due if less than 5 000 copies of a particular game title are distributed." --v So, unless you're going to sell more than 5,000 copies of your game, there's no license fee payable. Of course, if you do expect to sell more than 5,000 copies it may be prudent to choose an alternative format, of which there are many. //Andy
Fri, 13 Jun 2014, 06:21
steve_ancell	That applies itself to 5000 copies distributed, it doesn't state 5000 sold. Distribution is distribution, regardless of whether they are sold or given away for free.