The VideoLAN Forums

Dear all,

I'm writing to try to understand if there are some legal consequences to used Video LAN software infrastructure in an embedded application that could be placed in the market (not for free)

I would like to know if there are some fee to pay to anyone it I use a specific codec, standards or any specific implementation of the codec itself and what is in this case the sense to have a GNU license for Video LAN

The question are:
1) Is there any fee to pay if I use a specific standard ? I mean if I used MPEG4 codec, independently of a specific algorithm implemented in the codec to get the standard should I pay some fee ?
2) Is there any fee to pay if I use a specific implementation of a Video LAN codec in my embedded application. I mean if I used a Video LAN codec, subjected to the GNU, license independently of a specific algorithm implementation (MPEG2,4 ..), should I pay some fee ?
3) Is there, in any Video LAN codec, a specific algorithm that is patent, independently of the standard it use ?

Thanks in advance for any clarification around this subject
Paolo

Please look at the Videolan FAQ, Section 3.
http://videolan.org/doc/

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