How does Nullsoft handle MP3 patents?
 

I'm looking for a real world example of MP3 patents. How much does Nullsoft earn annually and how much does it pay in MP3 royalties?

As far as I know--someone correct me if I'm wrong--the entirety of the per-copy cost of Winamp Pro goes to pay the licensing fee for the MP3 burner.

Other than that, someone who actually works for Nullsoft is gonna have to answer this. >.>

http://www.mp3licensing.com/royalty/software.html

I assume AOL/Nullsoft pays the same thing everyone else does. From what I heard long ago that the decoder was paid in the flat fee many many years ago. The regristration cost for the MP3 encoder, as well as other fun stuff like AAC/MP4 and the usage of the Sonic burining engine are what the Pro costs go to.

Now, SHOUTcast does include an MP3 encoder. I guess those costs are assorbed as well.

But only the people who wear the fancy expensive suits at AOL know for sure and I doubt you will find any of them around here (like they know this place even exists).

Thanks for your speculations, guys. To clarify, more specifically I was wondering how they tracked the per-copy of software that is distributed by download. I suppose only charging per Winamp Pro makes more sense, as this can be tracked by payments and is actually more "commercial" than the free version. The once- off payment seems very expensive.

On the other hand, I guess it's impossible to track Nullsoft's earnings on the stock exchange (if Nullsoft was actually ever on it) as it's actually a part of AOL now...

Have a good one.

It's been part of AOL for several years.

especially when it was upped for 5.1. the cost of pro handles a number of different license and before pro was present i assume whatever costs were just covered for by aol.

-daz