The MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License provides​ coverage for the MPEG-2 Video and Systems standard specifications: ISO/IEC IS 13818-1 Information Technology - Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information including annexes C, D, F, J, and K; ISO/IEC IS 13818-2 including annexes A, B, C, D but excluding scalable extensions; and IS 13818-4 but only as it is needed to clarify IS 13818-2 ("MPEG-2 standard"). As of January 1, 2006, parties using the MPEG-2 Systems Standard in products without licensed MPEG-2 video encoders or decoders will benefit from coverage under the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License, in addition to other licenses that may be required (e.g., for non-MPEG-2 video codecs).

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Each Licensor is under an obligation to grant to Via LA a worldwide, nonexclusive license under all MPEG-2 Essential Patents that it has the right to license or sublicense presently or in the future, enabling Via LA to grant worldwide, nonexclusive sublicenses under such patents under terms of the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License.

The royalties payable under the License do not increase or decrease because of an increase or decrease in the number of MPEG-2 Essential Patents or because of an increase or decrease in the prices of a Licensee's MPEG-2 Royalty Products.  Rather, they are the value of a license granted under the Patent Portfolio taking into consideration the commercial intention of the Licensors to facilitate adoption of the MPEG-2 Standard and make available a pool license in which royalties are the same whether one or more patents is used.  New Licensors and new patents are added with no increase in royalty rates during the current Term of the License.

While Licensors are under an obligation to grant to Via LA a worldwide, nonexclusive license under all MPEG-2 Essential Patents that it and its Affiliates presently or in the future has the right to license or sublicense, enabling Via LA to grant worldwide, nonexclusive sublicenses under terms of the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License, no assurance is or can be made that the License includes every essential patent. The purpose of the License is to offer a convenient licensing alternative to everyone on the same terms and to include as much essential intellectual property as possible for their convenience; however, participation in the License is voluntary on the part of essential patent holders.

Any party that believes it has patents which are essential to the MPEG-2 Standard, and wishes to participate in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License upon successful evaluation, is invited to submit them for evaluation and inclusion. Please contact Via LA at submissions@via-la.com to request a copy of the submission procedures and the terms and conditions governing the submission of patents for essentiality determination in order to join the MPEG-2 Licensing Program.

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The MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License provides coverage under patents that are essential for use of the MPEG-2 Video and Systems Standard. Therefore, products that include MPEG-2 functionality (for example, MPEG-2 decoding in a set-top box, television, PC or DVD player) and bear the brand name that Licensee owns or otherwise has the right to use at Licensee's discretion need to be licensed under these essential patents and will benefit from coverage under our MPEG-2 License.

Under the MPEG-2 License, coverage is provided and royalties are paid on MPEG-2 end products that are sold under a brand that the Licensee owns or has the right to use ("MPEG - 2 Products"). Accordingly, the party that offers (directly or indirectly) such branded MPEG-2 Products for Sale to the end user is responsible for being licensed and paying the applicable royalty. In the case where a company offers its own end products (for example, a DVD player that bears the brand name that Licensee owns or otherwise has the right to use at Licensee's discretion) then that company would benefit from the coverage provided under the License and would be responsible for paying the applicable royalties. Alternatively, if such company offers only components or OEM products for its customers (for example, products sold under a brand name owned or rightfully used by a customer) then such product would not be licensed under the License.

Royalties apply as defined in the License. Click here for information.

The original goal of the ISOs MPEG committee was to create a standard for the delivery of video on a compact disc. The committee specifically targeted bitrates of around 1.2 Mbits per second (Mbps) for video. That original standard is known as MPEG-1. The ISOs MPEG Committee developed a second effort that takes advantage of higher bandwidths (data rates) to deliver higher image resolution and picture quality. Specifically, this effort targeted increased image quality in ranges from about 3 to 15 Mbps, support of interlaced video formats, and provision for multi-resolution scalability. This is MPEG-2.