[ANN] id3libv1.0.0

[Scott Kane]

From: "Richard Gaskin" <ambassador at fourthworld.com>

> Patented, eh?  Does the patent holder explicitly allow third parties to 
> read and write to that part of the proprietary MP3 file format, or can we 
> expect them to pull a bait-and-switch down the road like CompuServe did 
> with GIF?

They are already pulling.  MS, Apple etc pay them royalties now and anybody 
reading and writing to and from the file is expected to do the same.  They 
have attempted to go after some of the freeware tools and have gone after 
several smaller commercial developers.

Take a look here:

http://www.chillingeffects.org/patent/notice.cgi?NoticeID=464

and here:

http://mp3licensing.com/

Note that this covers tags and playing and the creation of MP3 files.  Ogg 
is a good substitute though Thompson GMBH have turned their attention to 
that as well several times in that they suggest Ogg *may* infringe on their 
compression patent.  Another company in the USA had Microsoft in court in 
February as they also claim to own a patent on MP3 (not sure of details of 
the actual patent held) and wanted mega bucks for use.   They won and MS are 
appealing.  The tags are covered by the Thompson patent but getting precise 
details requires you contact their lawyers.  Having done that once I'd not 
recommend it - they are creeps. <g>

Scott Kane
CD Too - Voice Overs Artist  &Original Game and Royalty Free Multi-Media 
Music
"There are two ways of being deceived.  One is to believe that which is not
true.  The other is to not believe that which is true." Søren Aabye 
Kierkegaard