MPEGIF closes its doors as new HEVC standard patent callemerges

June 28, 2012 // Nick Flaherty

The MPEG Interoperability Forum is to close after 12 years of promoting the MPEG video standard just as a call for patents goes out for the next generation technology.

"When the MPEGIF forum was first initiated in June 2000 it was at a time of great fragmentation in this industry," said David Price ofEricsson and the last president. "As silicon continued to advance alternatives to MPEG-2 emerged in many forms. Our task was to educate and evangelize an emerging standards based solution that became known as MPEG-4 Part 10, aka AVC, aka H.264."
The group help Masterclasses on the technology and ran interoperability sessions to ensure equipment, particularly in the broadcast market, would work together. "Slowly but surely H.264 gained mind share and then market share and today is clearly the dominant codec of choice replacing MPEG-2 around the world," said Price.
The next generation video standard, H.265 HEVC is now starting to emerge, with the MPEG Licensing Authority this week issued a call for patents for the technology (also called MPEG-H part 2).
HEVC is expected to deliver next generation higher resolution HDTV video displays for 4K and 8K Ultra High Definition TV with final approval for the standard expected in January 2013.
“By starting the joint license facilitation process now, the market can enjoy the earliest opportunity to plan for deployment of this promising new technology,” said MPEG LA President and CEO Larry Horn.
As often happens at this stage of setting up a patentpool there are detailed discussionon the levkl of royalties and who will adminster the patent pool. “MPEG LA is pleased to assist in facilitating a convenient, independently administered, one-stop patent licensing alternative to assist users with implementation of their technology choices and invites all patent holders to participate,” said Horn.
By the end of June the intellectual property from the MPEGIF will move over to the Open IPTV Forum at www.oipf.tv/mpegif

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