For 15 years, Xiph.Org has carefully "played by the
rules," fully within the bounds, intent, and letter of
intellectual property and patent law. For the past ten
years we've informed the entire world, including MPEG LA,
of our specifications and algorithms in detail. We've
requested in open letters that any group believing we
are infringing to inform us so that we make take
immediate corrective action.
I predict that MPEG LA may counter that they know
groups have been pressured into licensing patents in order
to use Theora. This has been a recent back-room assertion.
You might want to ask point blank if MPEG LA itself or any
of its constituent members has engaged in this practice,
thus manufacturing the evidence that "vindicates" their
patent allegations. I beg you - tell me immediately if you
get a straight answer (or good video of any squirming)!
I'm sure you can tell I'm a bit peeved; this has been going
on for over a decade. It's amazing they've never been
called out on it.
