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> Apparently all we have to do is stand back and let the dominant players commit suicide while they dance around Schroedinger's Cash Box

Don't know how true this is with regards to MPEG, but I really enjoyed this quote

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One thing that's easily mixed up: MPEG sets standards. MPEG-LA is a wholly different entity to organize cashing in on them.

MPEG's policies on creating standards are basically set up to enable the MPEG-LA and new patent pools like this one to make money, though. They have a policy of not caring about whether the technology is patented or not - there could be a small tweak that'd turn it from patent-infringing to patent-free and they'd ignore it - which means that all the members can and do cram as many of their patents into MPEG standards as they can find excuses for.

MPEG is funded directly by their organization (ISO) and doesn't really have a (edit: financial) dog in this fight.

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