RE: 1394 Licensing issues

[hunter <hu...@ti...>]

At 06:15 AM 5/4/00 -0700, Mark Knecht wrote:
>Matt,
>    I haven't read the licensing agreement from 1394LA, but I thought that
>historically these fees have been paid by the manufacturers of the silicon
>content, not the end-system/board manufacturers. If not, you get into
>multiple $0.25 payments for the same content. I.e. - I by a chip from
>someone who pays $0.25 to make the chip, and then I pay $0.25 to make a
>board, and then I sell that board to someone who adds software content and
>pays $0.25 to ship the board...
>
>    Do you have any background/understanding in this area?
>
>    Like you, I would certainly appreciate Mr. Wooten's input.
>
>Mark

Your reasoning is accurate -- the 25 cents is *per system* -- that is, if 
you add a 1394 board to your PC, or if you buy a PC with a 1394 chip, 
you've paid the fee.  So there is no need to worry about the fee for 
drivers and low level software written for 1394 devices.

The higher levels of software are a different topic.  Almost all of the 
major AV algorithm producers have an agreement on pooling license fees 
(note the references to 61883 in www.1394la.com), but there is reputed to 
be one notable holdout on some patents.  The situation there still needs 
some "clarification" -- as they say in the politician's handbook.

Hunter




>-----Original Message-----
>From: Matt Pujol [mailto:mat...@ls...]
>Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 4:38 PM
>To: Southwell
>Cc: lin...@li...
>Subject: Re: 1394 Licensing issues
>
>
>The 1394 Licensing Authority is the group to be dealt with - they are at
>www.1394la.com.  They want $0.25USD for each end product sold.  So, if you
>make a Linux 1394-enabled system, you have to participate in the 1394LA
>agreement.  As for Open Source/GPL code, I've heard (I'm not sure
>where) that as long as no money changes hands, there's no royalty.....but
>that's just what I've heard, I'm sure Mr. Wooten will correct me if
>necessary.
>
>The question/issue is the same for MPEG-2....they have the same, if not
>worse licensing issues.
>
>
>Regards,
>
>
>Matt
>
>
>Southwell wrote:
>
>
>Can someone please tell me what the current position is on IEEE 1394
>licensing issues as far as they affect the development and use of firewire
>under Linux. I am finding the current licensing situation quite confusing
>and am concerned to know that anyone using the IEEE 1394  support will not
>be landing themselves into a potentially difficult legal position.. Thanks
>David S.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Matt Pujol
>To: lin...@li...
>Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 12:43 PM
>Subject: I need some info on driver development status
>  Dear Linux-1394 Zealots,
>
>I will be giving an overview presentation on 1394 and Linux at the 1394
>Developer's Conference in San Jose, June 20-22.  I want to give an update on
>the state of the 1394 driver development, supported protocols, and future
>plans.  This will be a great opportunity to give the activity of the the
>this development group some extra credibility and maybe get some more
>development support.
>
>
>So, please, everybody who's doing anything, let me know where you're at,
>what you lack, where you're going, and when you might get there with your
>development activity.  I'll share the compilation of what I get with the
>reflector.
>
>
>Now for the blatant marketing plug.....If you are in the Bay Area on June
>20-22, maybe at the Fairmont Hotel, and you have $795 to spare to learn
>everything you ever wanted to know about 1394...then come to the Developer's
>Conference!!  Here's the link for more information
>http://www.1394ta.org/Events/DevCon/index.html .  It's well worth it.
>
>
>Best regards and I expect to hear from each and every one of you......
>
>
>Matt
>
>
>--
>
>/***********************
>
>Matt Pujol
>
>1394 Product Marketing Manager
>
>
>
>LSI Logic
>
>2001 Danfield Court
>
>Fort Collins, Co 80525
>
>970-206-5816
>
>mat...@ls...
>
>***********************/
>
>
>--
>
>/***********************
>
>Matt Pujol
>
>1394 Product Marketing Manager
>
>
>
>LSI Logic
>
>2001 Danfield Court
>
>Fort Collins, Co 80525
>
>970-206-5816
>
>mat...@ls...
>
>***********************/
>
>
>
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