Patent-Clear and Headache-Free Sound Format
By Charlie Cho
The late '90s brouhaha over digital music on the Internet brought the MP3 format into the popular consciousness. While most of the controversy centered on sharing copyrighted content over the Internet, less recognized was the fact that the MP3 format, actually a part of the MPEG-1 multimedia standard, is proprietary technology protected by an array of patents. However, unlicensed use of the MP3 format by individuals for non-commercial use was tolerated, and compatible software was generally available free of charge.
As MP3 file encoding and trading exploded, the Fraunhofer Institute—which developed the MP3 format—and its partner Thomson Multimedia stepped up enforcement of licensing fees for software or hardware that could create or play MP3s. Musicians, game developers, and streaming broadcasters who wished to use the format also had to pay. These sometimes exorbitant licensing terms have resulted in the disappearance of several free MP3 encoding applications, and in questionable legal status for others.
Open Source in Action
Ogg Vorbis is a relative newcomer to the field of compressed digital audio. The brainchild of Chris Montgomery, the Ogg Vorbis specification (which, alas, has yet to be completely documented) is in the public domain. Ogg Vorbis development is now sponsored by Montgomery's Xiphophorous Company, a non-profit group that also develops the Icecast streaming server and the CDParanoia audio extraction program.
