# HG changeset patch
# User nenolod
# Date 1149056894 25200
# Node ID 75ac6ae3922538bc4667c0984bd622aaaf95485d
# Parent  8e6b7ed7dd8891e0e86ae98671a70cb21ae12142
[svn] - add section concerning the MP3 patents and commercial use

diff -r 8e6b7ed7dd88 -r 75ac6ae39225 Plugins/Input/mpg123/README
--- a/Plugins/Input/mpg123/README	Tue May 30 23:10:32 2006 -0700
+++ b/Plugins/Input/mpg123/README	Tue May 30 23:28:14 2006 -0700
@@ -51,4 +51,17 @@
 major issue; however if it is, a lowlevel API (mainly undocumented) is provided
 to allow for the implementation of custom event loops.
 
-  -- William Pitcock <nenolod@nenolod.net>, May 23 2006
+libmpgdec and patents
+=====================
+
+While I believe libmpgdec is not patent encumbered by the Huffman patents
+(Thomson), and that it is not encumbered by any of the Fraunhofer or
+Coding Technologies patents, I do not happen to be a patent lawyer, so
+I cannot tell you for sure. I do however, know that the patents (in theory)
+only cover linear synthesis-based decoding, and that libmpgdec uses
+adaptive decoding. You can draw your own conclusions, there.
+
+That said, if you are using libmpgdec in a commercial application, it may
+be wise for you to go ahead and get patent licences from Fraunhofer.
+
+  -- William Pitcock <nenolod@nenolod.net>, May 30 2006