MPEG LA, LLC has made available the MPEG-DASH ("DASH") Patent Portfolio License.
The joint license includes patents that are essential to the MPEG Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) standard, which enables high quality streaming of media content over HTTP to be dynamically adapted to changing network conditions to provide smooth playback of video and other content without stalls or re-buffering events.
The DASH standard is used in products such as mobile phones, tablets, televisions, set-top boxes, computers, digital/personal video recorders, optical disc players or recorders, game consoles and software. It appears that neither a browser that supports DASH or a temporarily loaded player would give rise to a royalty.
The license is targeted towards those using the DASH Standard as defined as ISO/IEC 23009-1:2014. If you're using Media Presentation Descriptions (MPDs) in a player or app, you are obviously obliged to contact MPEG LA.
Current DASH essential patent holders include Amotech Co., Ltd.; AVerMedia Technologies, Inc.; CableTelevision Laboratories, Inc.; Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute; Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.; Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.; Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation; Siemens AG; SK Planet Co., Ltd.; and The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.
"As DASH implementation kicks into high gear throughout the world, MPEG LA is pleased to offer to the marketplace a convenient, fair and efficient licensing alternative that offers everyone reasonable access to this valuable breakthrough technology on the same terms under a single license," said MPEG LA President and CEO Larry Horn. "We commend the hard work and cooperation of the patent holders that have agreed to offer a joint license for the benefit of the DASH marketplace," said Bill Geary, Vice President of Business Development at MPEG LA, "and we welcome other DASH essential patent owners to join them."
Copies of the DASH license agreement may be obtained at http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/MPEG-DASH/Pages/AgreementExpress.aspx.
The license won't be finalized until early December.