MPEG LA Issues MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License; License Provides Coverage for MPEG-2 Systems Standard in Products Without MPEG-2 Video Decoders or Encoders.

DENVER -- MPEG LA today announced the availability of the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License providing coverage for use of the MPEG-2 Systems Standard in products without MPEG-2 video encoders or decoders. The MPEG-2 Systems Standard (ISO documents IS 13818-1 (including annexes C, D, F, J and K)) defines how to format the various components of multimedia programs and combine them into a single program or transport bitstream. Currently included in the License are essential patents owned by Alcatel, GE Technology Development, Inc., Hitachi, Ltd., Mitsubishi, Philips, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Scientific Atlanta, and Thomson Licensing. Copies of the License can be requested at http://www.mpegla.com/m2s/m2s-agreement.cfm.

"With the emergence of new applications such as mobile broadcasting and home media centers, the demand for this license has become more and more evident," said MPEG LA Chief Executive Officer Larry Horn. "We congratulate the MPEG-2 Systems patent holders for stepping forward to address it."

Under the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License, the applicable royalty is US $0.50 per device (in addition to royalties that may be required for other licenses, e.g., for non-MPEG-2 video codecs).

MPEG LA continues to offer its MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License providing coverage for use of the MPEG-2 Video and Systems Standards in products with or using MPEG-2 video encoders and decoders.

MPEG LA's objective is to provide worldwide access to as much MPEG-2 Systems essential intellectual property as possible for the benefit of licensees (new patent holders and essential patents may be added at no additional royalty during the current term of the License). Therefore, any party that believes it has a patent which is essential to the MPEG-2 Systems Standard and would like to participate in the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License is invited to submit its patent(s) for an evaluation of essentiality by MPEG LA's patent experts and inclusion in the License if determined to be essential. Interested parties may request a copy of the terms and procedures governing patent submissions by going to http://www.mpegla.com/m2s/m2s-licensors.cfm.

MPEG LA, LLC 

MPEG LA is the world leader in one-stop technology platform patent licenses, enabling users to acquire patent rights necessary for a particular technology standard or platform from multiple patent holders in a single transaction as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses. Wherever an independently administered one-stop patent license would provide a convenient marketplace alternative to assist users with implementation of their technology choices, the licensing model pioneered and employed by MPEG LA may provide a solution. MPEG LA is not related to any standards agency and is not an affiliate of any patent holder. MPEG LA licenses portfolios of essential patents for the MPEG-2, IEEE 1394, DVB-T, MPEG-4 Visual (Part 2), MPEG-4 Systems and AVC/H.264 (also known as MPEG-4 Part 10) standards. MPEG LA is also facilitating the development of alternative patent portfolio licenses for VC-1, ATSC, DVB-H, various digital rights management (DRM) technologies including OMA DRM 1.0 and 2.0., RFID, and the Blu-ray Disc(TM) Standard. In addition, MPEG LA actively seeks to adopt its alternative patent licensing model in other industries including biotech and pharmaceutical. For more information, please refer to http://www.mpegla.com.