Intellectual Property Law

According to reports, communications giant AT&T has advised several high tech companies, including Apple Computer, CyberLink, DivX and InterVideo, that their products infringe patents owned by AT&T that cover key video compression technology. The patents relate to MPEG-4 technology, which consists of various audio and video coding standards. Among the possible uses for MPEG-4 technology cited by AT&T are video editing and playback video in the MPEG-4 format. AT&T has not yet filed suit against any alleged infringers, and apparently announced its belief that Apple and others are infringing in an interview with PC Magazine.

MPEG ? which stands for Moving Pictures Experts Group ? is a group that manages audio and video coding standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission and the International Organization for Standardization. These standards are used in connection with a wide spectrum of computer-related video products. Most standards setting organizations require the owners of patents that claim components of standards to offer to license those inventions at reasonable and non-discriminatory rates, and it is possible that AT&T has such an obligation. Indeed, AT&T claims to have already licensed its MPEG-4 technology to Pentax Corporation and Nero AG.

Will the MPEG-4 patents become a new litigation battlefield? What do you think the effect of such litigation would be? The Blawg will let you know what happens.

Today's Blogger:  Bob Sloss