**The MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF) website has links to up-to-date news and press releases pertaining to MPEG-4. In addition, they have put together an up-to-date and detailed overview of the standard which can be viewed by clicking here.**

News Articles

"Finding Patent Truth in JPEG Claim" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-945686.html
(07-22-02)

A small videoconferencing company is laying claim to the ubiquitous JPEG format, igniting a backlash from some consumers and from a standards organization.

"JPEG Patent Claim Sparks Concern" - Wired News Article
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,53981,00.html
(07-19-02)

Since 1986, Patent No. 4,698,672 has done little more than languish in the archives of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Government examiners first issued the patent, which covers a "coding system for reducing redundancy" to a San Jose, California, company called Compression Labs. The approval came more than a decade before the digital imaging technology known as JPEG reached mass-market popularity. Sixteen years later, however, the Austin, Texas, software developer that now owns the patents is seeing fresh value in an old document. The company, Forgent Networks, says the patent directly applies to a compression technique used in the creation of JPEG images.

"Group Sets MPEG-4 Licensing Standards" - ZDNet Article
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t272-s2119205,00.html
(07-16-02)

The patent holders overseeing MPEG-4 are set to release the much-anticipated licensing standards. The new standards will reportedly include the manageable royalty rates that were a huge bone of contention in the development of the standards. "We've met a lot of the concerns that have been expressed in the marketplace," said Lawrence Horn, spokesman for the group, which represents 18 patent holders that have claims on underlying MPEG-4 technology. "We've built a licensing model that's usable in the industry." The good news for broadcasters in smaller markets: content owners with fewer than 50,000 subscribers won't be subject to the royalty schedule at all. It's also really good news for Apple since they've placed a lot of resources behind their QuickTime media viewer which would have been squashed by earlier pricing models.

Moving Image Group Editorial - Moving Image News Editorial
http://movingimagenews.infopop.net/3/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=914294907&f=582297948&m=1562923116
(07-15-02)

"Licensing Decision Ends MPEG-4 Tiff" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-944051.html
(07-15-02)

MPEG LA, a group of patent holders governing MPEG-4, on Monday finalized licensing terms for the media delivery standard, bowing to market pressure for manageable royalty rates.

"Liquid Audio Sues Over Tracking Patent" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-941272.html
(07-02-02)

Liquid Audio said that it has sued geo-targeting company InfoSplit, alleging the company is using without a license its patented technology for restricting digital delivery to certain areas.

"What Do You Think Future TV Will Look Like?" - ZDNet News Article
http://www.corante.com/personal/redir/7419.html
(07-01-02)

Perhaps you've heard the rumor that Microsoft plans to add its UltimateTV personal video recorder technology to some future version of its Xbox game console. If MS added the new Xbox Live online service to the mix, along with the e-mail and browsing features of WebTV, and bits and pieces from the Freestyle e-home project, you'd have a really compelling product. Of course, depending on the actual implementation of the hybrid device, it could also be a hard-to-use mishmash of features that don't really belong together.

"Talking Back to the Tube" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2009-1023-940710.html?tag=fd_nc_1
(06-30-02)

Imagine being able to turn your television on, pick the program you want to see from your customized prerecorded list, pull up an on-screen menu to check the latest weather, instant message a friend, and order pizza from your remote control, all without leaving your couch.

"Digital Media: Will Microsoft Win Again?" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-938997.html
(06-25-02)

A battle is brewing over the future of digital media that could determine whether consumers are locked into formats controlled by Microsoft or have access to more open standards championed by competitors.

"Webcasting Pioneer: Royalty Rates Set High to Cut Competition" - SiliconValley.com Article
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/3559843.htm
(06-27-02)

A Webcasting pioneer who helped strike a key deal that influenced the rate all other Internet radio stations would pay the recording industry admits he let it be set high to drive out competitors. The comments made this week by Mark Cuban, founder of Broadcast.com, have inflamed small Webcasters who say royalties paid to stream music over the Internet will force them out of business.

"On2 Throws More Open-Source at MPEG-4" - InternetNews.com Article
http://www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/1370341
(06-24-02)

Compression technology company On2 Technologies, fighting for more acceptance of its VP3 open source codec, has joined forces with open source foundation Xiph.Org Foundation to build a royalty-free streaming media platform. The decision to combine its source code with Xiph's Ogg Vorbis, which offers a royalty-free audio compression platform similar to MP3, is yet another shot across the bow of the competing multimedia streaming standard MPEG-4.

"Technology: Music Industry, Webcasters Search for Harmony" - The Nando Times Article
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/445620p-3566190c.html
(06-24-02)

With commercial radio outlets consolidating and playlists tightening, record labels and recording artists are having a tough time getting the airplay that fuels CD sales. Internet radio, on the other hand, represents a new and potentially powerful ally: a medium that can expose new artists to the fans most likely to respond to them. So why are the labels and Web broadcasters at each other's throats?

"Curtain Call for Webcasts?" - WashingtonPost.com Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20412-2002Jun20.html?referer=email
(06-21-02)

Thousands of Internet radio stations may find their transmissions financially jammed after the Librarian of Congress yesterday adjusted the royalty fees that the webcasters must pay musicians and record companies for broadcasting their songs online.

"PacketVideo Spurs Mobile Media Adoption" - Yahoo! News Article
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nf/20020621/tc_nf/18317
(06-21-02)

Software developer PacketVideo and digital media technology firm Pinnacle Systems have joined forces to deliver MPEG-4 content to wireless devices using Pinnacle's StreamFactory broadband mobile media encoding products.

"Who Needs MPEG-4?" - InternetNews.com Article
http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/1364461
(06-21-02)

Two tech companies on opposite sides of the globe say they have a better solution to the multimedia buzz over MPEG-4. Campbell, Calif.-based Equator and Tel Aviv, Israel-based Moonlight Cordless Limited Tuesday unveiled a full resolution and low-bitrate MPEG-2 real-time encoder for Equator's BSP family of Broadband Signal Processor devices. The real-time D1 MPEG-2 encoder is being featured at the DSP 2002 Conference in Tel Aviv this week. The companies say the program offers superior video quality at substantially lower bitrate while maintaining full standard-compliance. Equator and Moonlight say the solution can be used for a wide range of video-centric applications ranging from set-top boxes, personal video recorders to digital video security and surveillance applications.

"Curtain Call for Webcasts?" - WashingtonPost.com Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20412-2002Jun20.html
(06-21-02)

Thousands of Internet radio stations may find their transmissions financially jammed after the Librarian of Congress yesterday adjusted the royalty fees that the webcasters must pay musicians and record companies for broadcasting their songs online.

"I Want My File-Served TV!" - Fortune News Article
http://www.fortune.com/indexw.jhtml?channel=artcol.jhtml&doc_id=208364
(06-21-02)

The future of television is video-on-demand (VOD), says Stewart Alsop. But the biggest VOD system this year will have 1,500 hours of video on its computers while he estimates the global output at a million hours a year. The solution may be ''file-shared TV'': a distributed system in which programming resides on hard drives in living rooms around the world. ''Essentially, file-served television describes an Internet for video content,'' Alsop explains his vision.

"Cut in Webcast Royalty Rates Angers Both Sides" - SiliconValley.com Article
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/3513708.htm
(06-20-02)

The Librarian of Congress on Thursday cut in half the royalty rate Webcasters must pay to stream music over the Internet, a compromise that made almost no one happy. Operators of small Internet radio stations said the rate is still three times what they can afford -- and predicted that hundreds of independent broadcasters would collapse. The recording industry, meanwhile, complained it is being forced to subsidize the online operations of conglomerates like America Online, RealNetworks and Viacom.

"Apple: We told you QuickTime was #1!" - Yahoo! News Article
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/zd/20020619/tc_zd/937379
(06-19-02)

Apple Computer is close to vindication in a long-running dispute with Web researchers over the popularity of its QuickTime multimedia technology--a victory that could help speed adoption of new digital video and audio standards.

"Fee Could Hurt Web Radio; Small Stations Say They Can't Afford It" - SeattleTimes.com Article
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/134477780_ radio19.html
(06-19-02)

The Librarian of Congress is expected to declare what rate Webcasters will pay for distributing a digital recording of a song — an issue that has pitted large broadcasting companies and small Webcasters against large record labels and recording artists, both popular and obscure. The topic is particularly salient in Seattle, where RealNetworks and Microsoft run the two largest digital media-delivery businesses. Both provide the tools to broadcast and receive Internet audio and video.

"FullAudio Gets New Music, Funding" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-937295.html?tag=cd_mh
(06-18-02)

Online music service FullAudio received $13.5 million in new funding and struck a licensing deal with Bertelsmann's BMG, its fourth major record label, the company said Tuesday.

Preventing Content from Being Napsterized" - The Digital Edge Article
http://www.digitaledge.org/monthly/2001_05/copyright.html
(06-17-02)

This thoughtful piece by J.D. Lasica shines light on the latest steps companies are taking to safeguard their intellectual property. Lasica uses anecdotes about real-life 'fixes' that companies have employed to stop rampant copyright theft and trademark infringement. Also he says: Get used to hearing a lot more about DRM: digital rights managment. Lasica predicts that DRM is a field whose time has come and he looks for big things in this area over the course of the next year. Read about the four overlapping categories of DRM: (1) reprints and permissions, (2) encrypted content solutions, (3) content distribution, and (4) copyright enforcement. Also, you may want to poke around The Digital Edge's site for breaking intelligence on other emerging trends.

"Webcasters Demand TV Rights" - Wired News Article
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,52996,00.html
(06-12-02)

JumpTV.com, a Canadian webcaster that wants to retransmit television programming over the Internet, doesn't understand why its plan is making people so jumpy. The dot-com is the focus of intense controversy in the television world because of its plans to pick up network programming and webcast it over the Internet. Canada's compulsory license law allows companies to retransmit television programming broadcast over the air. This includes the fare of most major networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC and, in Canada, CBC, CTV and Global. Companies that retransmit television broadcasts pay a fee to the federal government that in turn is redistributed to each of the television networks.

"MPEG Group Eyes Licensing Solution - with Apple's Help" - Yahoo! News Article
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nf/20020610/tc_nf/18142
(06-10-02)

The MPEG Licensing Association (MPEG LA), a group of major corporations that control MPEG standards through a large patent portfolio, has been the bane of Apple's campaign for digital media superiority. The organization first caused the delay of QuickTime 6 because of its insistence on charging for audio and video streams utilizing the MPEG-4 format. Now, it is limiting QuickTime's functionality --­ especially for low-budget operations. But despite its opposition to the proposed licensing terms, Apple has released a preview of QuickTime 6 with full MPEG-4 integration. By demonstrating the benefits of the new audio-video format with higher quality media at dramatically reduced file size, both parties apparently are striving for a timely resolution to the dispute.

"MPEG-4 Licensing Should be Resolved This Summer" - Yahoo! News Article
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/mc/20020605/tc_mc/mpeg_4_licensing_should_be_resolved_ this_summer
(06-09-02)

Apple released a preview version of QuickTime 6 that supports MPEG-4, a new standard for rich media on the Internet. Despite QuickTime 6's release, Apple still hasn't worked out all of the licensing issues with MPEG LA, the group of MPEG-4 patent holders. However, both sides of the licensing dispute are confident that a resolution is near.

"Off-key Efforts Hinder Paid Net Music" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-932412.html
(06-05-02)

A good look at how some PC makers are hoping to insert themselves into the music delivery business. While the recording industry uses lawsuits, lobbying and other tactics to try to stem the free trading of music online, makers of PCs, CD burners and other equipment are trying to make deals that protect copyrighted content while encouraging consumers to buy devices that can access music digitally.

"One-on-one with Steve Jobs" - c|net News Interview
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-932419.html
(06-05-02)

Q&A Is MPEG-4 video technology the next big thing? Apple Computer's Steve Jobs thinks so.

"Apple Backs MPEG-4 Despite Fee Dispute" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-932129.html
(06-04-02)

Apple Computer released a public preview of QuickTime 6, signaling the possible end of a heated dispute between the computer maker and a licensing group that controls the use of MPEG-4 media technology.

"SuperComm: IBM, Inktomi Team on Streaming Media" - Infoworld Article
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/06/03/020603hnibmink.xml?0604tuam
(06-03-02)

IBM and Inktomi have teamed up to help large corporations provide high-bandwidth applications, including streaming media as well as key business applications such as ERP (enterprise resource planning), across their networks.

"They're Not Treating Webcasters Like Royalty" - Washingtonpost.com Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8271-2002May25.html? referer=email
(05-26-02)

Internet radio did not die last week. The stay of execution came from an unlikely figure, Librarian of Congress James Billington, who rejected without comment a proposal for royalty payments that Web broadcasters said would bankrupt them.

"The True Cost of Free Music" - Business 2.0 Article
http://www.business2.com/articles/web/0,1653,40816,FF.html
(05-24-02)

A good article about Kazaa, Napster's heir apparent and what Kazaa may eventually mean for the music industry. Interesting to note that Kazaa has already eclipsed Morpheus in total number of users. Right now, file-sharing companies are spending a considerable amount of their kitties on legal fees and relocation plans. For example, Kazaa is now owned by a company that's incorporated in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu – just to escape the long arm of the incensed and litigious entertainment industry.

"Digital Video Starts Small, Thinks Big" - c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-919609.html
(05-21-02)

Digital video providers and entertainment companies are courting cash-strapped independent filmmakers as testing grounds for new technology and services.

“Webcasting Royalty Rates Rejected” - StreamingMedia.com Article
http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=8230
(05-21-02)

A controversial royalty rate plan for streaming music online has been rejected by the Librarian of Congress. In a terse statement, federal regulators flatly rejected a royalty plan proposed by the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel for radio webcasters to compensate musicians and labels.

“Lessig Leads Copyright Crusade” - Infoworld Article
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/05/20/020520hnlessig.xml?  0523theb
(05-20-02)

Copyright as we know it is dead and patents hinder innovation, right? It's the truth if you are Lawrence Lessig, Stanford professor and chairman of non-profit organization Creative Commons, which was officially launched at the O'Reilly conference on Emerging Technologies. Aware of his controversial position, Lessig is spearheading a mission to educate the U.S. Congress and world at large about the missing "gray space" in copyright law, as illustrated by the open-source movement and the recording industry's legal demolition of Napster.

"Proving Online Subscriptions are for Real" - c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-918081.html
(05-20-02)

RealNetworks is poised to reach 1 million subscribers for its RealOne SuperPass subscription service by year's end. The report comes as RealNetworks continues to court a slew of major content partners in a move to leapfrog its powerful rivals, including Microsoft. Among RealNetworks' partners are Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, NASCAR, CNN, and E Networks. RealNetworks has also licensed content from MusicNet, a joint venture between RealNetworks and record labels owners AOL Time Warner, Bertelsmann and EMI Group.

"Webcasters: Royalties are Royal Pain - Recording Industry Says Internet Radio Must Pay to Play" - CNN News Article
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/05/16/internet.radio.ap/index.html
(05-16-02)

Advocates of online radio say that a federal plan that could force Internet radio stations to pay high royalties on the songs they play would lead to the death of the emerging business.

"Senators Hear War Of Words Over Webcast Royalties" - WashingtonPost.com Article
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/176607.html
(05-15-02)

The fight over online radio royalties spilled into the halls of Congress today when the Senate Judiciary Committee met to consider the fairness of a sound-recording royalty plan that would force Webcasters to pay out for every tune streamed to each listener.

"Copyright License Fee Would Ease File-Swap Problems - Verizon" - WashingtonPost.com Article
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/176579.html
(05-14-02)

If Internet users paid a "reasonable" flat fee to their Internet service provider in exchange for access to entertainment content that could be downloaded or streamed, many of the divisive legal issues related to online file-swapping could be resolved, a spokeswoman for Verizon stated.

"Webcasters Plan March on Washington" -  c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-904060.html
(05-09-02)

More than two dozen Web radio companies plan to speak to members of Congress on Thursday and Friday to protest proposed royalty rates they say could put many members of tyhe industry out of business.

"Digimarc Obtains Patents for Digital Watermarking" - InfoWorld Article
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/05/08/020508hndigimarc.xml? 0509thwebtech_article
(05-08-02)

THE U.S. Patent Office has granted Digimarc seven patents for digital watermarking technology used to protect the copyrights of audio, video and other content files. Digimarc's new patents allow the company to "build a sense of protection" for both copyright holders and its own intellectual property concerns into its existing products.

“Despite Hang-Up, QuickTime 6 Launch Set” – c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-901019.html?tag=cd_mh
(05-07-02)

Apple Computer stated that it would release QuickTime 6 late this summer, even though it has yet to resolve a licensing dispute over a new file format it plans to adopt.
Apple, which is building QuickTime 6 around the MPEG-4 file format, is one of several tech companies that balked at a licensing agreement that would require many of those that broadcast using the format to pay a royalty.

“Net Video's Obstacle to a Steady Stream” – c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-900617.html?tag=fd_lede
(05-07-02)

Streaming media companies aim to make Web video as seamless as television, but recent advances in technology may fall short of solving deeper problems with data delivery over the Internet. In the past few months, Microsoft, RealNetworks and Apple Computer have announced improvements to their streaming media systems that herald the end of cutouts and congestion in Net delivery of audio and video, or what's known as buffering.

“Microsoft Denies Claims About Media Player” - The Nando Times
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/393033p-3121052c.html
(05-06-02)

Two Microsoft executives took the stand to refute allegations from RealNetworks that MS used Windows to gain an unfair advantage among audio player programs. Microsoft official Linda Averett was particularly aggressive in her defense of Microsoft's media player market strategy - she attacked the earlier testimony of Real's VP, David Richards, essentially suggesting that Richards needs to stop whining and start designing.

“Interactive TV: The Big Kludge” – ZDNet Article
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-899499.html
(05-06-02)

AOL's decision to cancel its deal with TiVo is the latest failure in the much ballyhooed interactive TV market. The market was supposed to be huge; a 1999 Forrester Research report predicted interactive TV would rival the Internet by 2002. ''Even proponents by now must acknowledge that this 'nascent market' ranks as one of the biggest financial sinkholes since Boston's Big Dig,'' writes Charles Cooper. Technology isn't the problem, he adds. ''The main sticking point remains more fundamental: The Web as a visual medium is just not in the same class as television.''

"Streaming Music Choked by Fees?" - Wired News Article
http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,52245,00.html
(05-02-02)

The Copyright Royalty Arbitration Panel (CARP, a group working for the U.S. Copyright Office) has developed a fee that webcasters would be required to pay song writers, musicians and labels for use of their music. However, the initial rate of 14/100ths of a cent per listener per song could drive many webcasters to the poor house.

"Webcasts Go Silent in Royalty Protest" - SiliconValley.com Article
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/local/3170438.htm
(04-30-02)

Webcasters throughout the country will observe a day of silence today to protest a proposed royalty rate that they claim will bankrupt hundreds of Internet radio stations. Internet broadcasters -- from giant, ad-supported operations such as Radio Free Virgin to popular hobbyist stations like Digitally Imported -- will participate in the ``Mayday!'' protest, which is intended to spark a political firestorm over the rate.

“Digital-Music Protection in a Stall” - Seattle Times Article
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/ display?slug=btdigital29&date=20020429&query=digital+music+stall
(04-29-02)

Four years ago the record industry and some technology companies banded together to match wits in a combined effort to stamp out Internet music piracy. Their goal: to usher in an age of secure digital songs wrapped in unbreakable code. The Secure Digital Music Initiative was supposed to be just the medicine to marginalize the Napster phenomenon. Soon, there would be SDMI protected CDs and SDMI digital music downloads playing only on SDMI-compliant devices. All five major music labels continue to work on copy protection, of course. But competing digital-rights-management schemes are multiplying and don't play well with each other.

“RealNetworks: MPEG-4 Could be DOA” – ZDNet Article
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-892259.html
(04-25-02)

Proposed licensing fees for MPEG-4, a next-generation video compression standard, could mean its early death on the personal computer, RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser said in a press conference. "The licensing structure is putting the technology on a path to become irrelevant in the PC industry," Glaser said.

“Real: Licenses Could Kill MPEG-4” – c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-892219.html
(04-25-02)

Proposed licensing fees for MPEG-4, a next-generation video compression standard, could mean its early death on the personal computer, RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser said in a press conference.

“Techs Raise Digital Broadcast Flag” – c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-892154.html?tag=fd_top
(04-25-02)

A final report for establishing a standard to protect digital copyrighted broadcasts from being illegally redistributed is slated to be issued May 17. The step would be incremental as other issues such as stopping the unauthorized copying of songs and other digital media on the Internet are still unresolved and the subject of heated debate.

“MPEG-4 Visual Essential Patent Holders Meet to Discuss Licensing Terms” – Business Wire Article
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?bw.042402/221140273
(04-24-02)

MPEG LA and patent holders to the proposed MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License met on April 18 and 19 in New York City. They continue to discuss licensing terms and consider the constructive views, interests and concerns of prospective licensees. The group continues to discuss alternate royalty approaches, including forms of use-based royalties that place royalties on products and services for which remuneration is received and whose value supports the royalties charged. Among other approaches discussed, the group considered industry proposals that the widespread use of MPEG-4 Visual technology may be enhanced across various business models by the adoption of (a) reasonable annual limitations on certain royalties (in addition to those for decoders and encoders) in order to provide more cost predictability and (b) threshold levels below which certain use-based royalties would not be charged.

“RealNetworks Unveils Next-Gen Video Format” – News Factor Network Article
http://www.NewsFactor.com/perl/story/17434.html
(04-24-02)

Digital media distribution company RealNetworks has released a new version of its video and audio streaming software. According to the company, the updated software will deliver dramatically improved video quality to home and business users. As the first upgrade in two years, RealNetworks said, RealVideo 9 will transmit video files 30 percent more efficiently, enabling dial-up Internet users to download subscription-quality video. Because of improved compression for video files, two full-length movies can be stored on a CD and up to 15 movies will fit on a DVD.

“RealNetworks Updates its Streaming Video Format” – Digital Producer Article
http://www.digitalproducer.com/2002/04_apr/news/04_22/realnetworks_ real.htm
(04-24-04)

RealNetworks, Inc. today announced rich media corporate communications and sales training solutions for businesses, educational institutions and government organizations. With end-to-end content creation, publishing, delivery, playback and network management solutions as well as integration services and outsourcing services, RealNetworks is providing these solutions to a diverse group of organizations.

“Envivio Intros MPEG-4 Plug-In to the Microsoft Windows Media Player” – Digital Producer Article
http://www.digitalproducer.com/2002/04_apr/news/04_22/enviviompeg4 plug.htm
(04-23-02)

Envivio has introduced EnvivioTV player for Microsoft Windows Media Player. Now, Envivio provides MPEG-4 plug-ins for Apple QuickTime, RealNetworks RealOne, and Windows Media Player environments, the three major streaming formats for the PC environment.

“Is Apple's QuickTime King of the Digital Media Hill?” – NewsFactor.com Article
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/17274.html
(04-16-02)

According to analysts, the key to the success of any streaming media format is the support of third-party developers. Thanks to quickly proliferating broadband Internet access and focused industry attention, streaming media has become the center of a heated battle for market share. With facts and figures flying, Microsoft, RealNetworks and Apple each is touting its respective media format as the one that is most compact, offers the easiest authoring and delivers the best content quality. The ultimate winner, however, may be decided based on the potential for interactivity.

“Real Rides Subscriptions to Profits” – c|net News Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-884361.html
(04-16-02)

RealNetworks posted a quarterly net profit for the first time in more than two years as the Internet media software and services pioneer built momentum behind its consumer subscription business.

“Partial Pay Dirt” – Forbes Magazine Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-884361.html
(04-16-02)

Convincing Web surfers to pay for anything but porn is a hard sell, but big media companies are making some progress. This article provides examples of some of the novel methods companies are using to build a consumer base and then charging them for it.

“NAB Convention Boon for Apple, Bust for MPEG-4” – NewsFactor.com Article
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/17231.html
(04-11-02)

This week's National Association of Broadcasters conference saw a bevy of digital video tool announcements, as well as signs that a real fight is brewing over the MPEG-4 video standard. The most important news, however, may be some of the partnerships announced during the conference.

“ClearStar Links with iVast to Deliver Media Content” – The Hollywood Reporter Article
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/convergence/brief_ display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1461062
(04-10-02)

iVast has secured its biggest client to date, striking a multimillion-dollar deal with ClearStar USA, which will begin delivering its "triple play" Internet/video and telephone service within a year. ClearStar said that it purchased a complete suite of MPEG-4 software and systems from iVast after the pair teamed in January to successfully demonstrate interactive MPEG-4 content transmitted by satellite and distributed over existing cable networks.

“MPEG-4 Rival Raises Antitrust Specter” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-879392.html
(04-09-02)

Video-compression provider On2 Technologies is taking a swing at MPEG-4, complaining that companies cooperating to create a digital media standard may run afoul of antitrust laws. New York-based On2 said that it has sent letters to the Department of Justice and all state attorneys general, asking them to review the legality of a proposed MPEG-4 patent pool and to make a ruling as to whether it's anti-competitive. On2 offers a competing technology that it is pushing as an alternative video standard.

“Real Takes Charge in Subscription Software” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-878860.html
(04-09-02)

In its ongoing effort to become the torchbearer for paid online programming, RealNetworks on Tuesday unveiled software that allows content producers to charge fees for their online media.

“Flipster Offers Audio, Video on the Go” – CNN.com Article
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/04/09/flipster.mobile.idg/index.html
(04-09-02)

Flipster, a portable multimedia device, plays digital audio and video files, shows off digital pictures, and plays voice recordings and video games. It won't weigh you down: Flipster is about the same size as a deck of cards. The device is scheduled to ship later in April priced in several configurations starting at $399.

“MPEG-4 Gets Backing from Movie Studios” – ZDNet News Article
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-878777.html
(04-09-02)

MovieLink, a joint venture among five major movie studios, is expected to launch its Internet video-on-demand service later this year using MPEG-4 technology.

“MovieLink Expected to Use MPEG-4” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-878552.html
(04-08-02)

MovieLink, a joint venture among five major movie studios, is expected to launch its Internet video-on-demand service later this year using MPEG-4 technology, a studio executive familiar with the plans said Monday.

“DivX, MP3 Developers Unite for Security” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-875988.html
(04-04-02)

Video compression provider DivXNetworks has teamed with the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics to develop a system to protect digital video and audio from copyright violations. Under a deal, the companies said they would work together to create a digital watermark system.

“MPEG-4 Group Touts Interoperability” – InfoWorld Article
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/04/04/020404hnmpeg.xml
(04.04.02)

This article outlines the M4IF press release detailing growing momentum of interoperability of various MPEG-4 products.

Overview of the MPEG-4 Standard
http://mpeg.telecomitalialab.com/standards/mpeg-4/mpeg-4.htm
(03.01.01)

This page provides a comprehensive overview of the MPEG-4 standard and its different components and properties.

“Microsoft Plays in Hollywood's Court” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2011-1088-871610.html?tag=rmrftr
(03-29-02)

Microsoft has ardently wooed record labels and other content companies to use its Windows Media technology for their online services. Now rumors paint the software giant in shades of envy--of RealNetworks' RealOne subscription service.

“Stop. Pay Toll. Download.” – Salon.com Article
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2002/03/06/mpeg/
(03.06.02)

Backers of a next-generation multimedia compression technology want to charge a controversial fee -- but instead their plan is fanning interest in free, open-source alternatives.

“Oh, for Streaming Out Loud!” – Infrastructure News Article
http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article/0,,10693_983771,00.html
(03.01.02)

MPEG patent holders are said to be reconsidering some terms of their licensing policy but for the most part they still stand by the usage fee structure. So where does MPEG-4 go from here?

“On2: Move Over, MPEG-4” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-843457.html
(02.22.02)

Video-compression provider On2 Technologies is taking aim at MPEG-4, releasing an update of its own technology, known as VP5, as companies wrangle over proposed licensing fees for the emerging digital video standard.

“Apple Spurns Proposed MPEG-4 Licenses” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-835740.html
(02.12.02)

Apple Computer has rejected proposed licensing terms for the emerging MPEG-4 video standard, leaving the future of its QuickTime multimedia technology in limbo.

“Companies Fear Costly MPEG-4 Licenses” – c|net Article
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-833247.html
(02.08.02)

A newly proposed MPEG-4 licensing plan is sending jitters through multimedia circles, raising cost concerns about a new standard that promises to bring powerful interactive features to digital video.

“MPEG LA Responds to Licensing Criticism” – Streaming Media Article
http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=8174
(02.06.02)

StreamingMedia.com interviewed Mr. Larry Horn, MPEG LA’s vice president of licensing, and allowed him to respond to the growing criticism of the proposed licensing terms. Some good quotes from the article include: “The feedback is great. This is new stuff. Everybody's got a different story of how they're going to use the technology.”; “…nothing is cast in absolute stone, we're working on the final license."; and “We brought the sellers together, and they're open to hearing what the buyers have to say."

MPEG-4: A Multimedia Standard for the Third Millennium
http://computer.org/multimedia/articles/mpeg4_1.htm
(02.01.02)

In Part I of this two-part article, a comprehensive overview of the technical elements of the MPEG-4 multimedia system specification is provided. In Part II, they describe an application scenario based on digital satellite television broadcasting, discuss the standard’s envisaged evolution, and compare it to other activities in forums addressing multimedia specifications.

“Anger Greets MPEG-4 Licensing Scheme” – Electronic Engineering Times
http://www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20020131S0061
(01.31.02)

Article outlining the initial reaction to the terms and conditions, including the “use fee”, disclosed by MPEG LA earlier this year.

“MPEG for All” – Streaming Media Article
http://www.streamingmedia.com/tutorials/view.asp?tutorial_id=149
(01.15.02)

This article is a technical look at the MPEG specifications in place today and the developments advancing tomorrow’s applications. Topics include: a comparison of MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4; the technical merits of MPEG-4 in relation to the proprietary formats for streaming media in use today; and an examination of the details of the MPEG-4 specification in terms of the rich media content that can be created and efficiently delivered over today’s networks.

“MPEG-4 Resources” - Electronic Engineering Times Article
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20011112S0065
(11.15.01)

This site provides a listing of other sites which provide additional information and updates on the various MPEG standards.

“Tech Giants Push MPEG-4 Standard” – c|net News
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-273966.html?legacy=cnet&tag=pt.msn. cdf.hl.ne_741
(10.04.01)

A standards body comprising such tech heavyweights as Apple Computer and Cisco Systems has released a specification for streaming MPEG-4 video and audio via the Web.

Tutorial Issue on the MPEG-4 Standard – Image Communication Journal
http://leonardo.telecomitalialab.com/icjfiles/mpeg-4_si/index.htm
(03.21.01)

This site lists invited papers to the journal dealing with various aspects of the MPEG-4 standard. Topics include: the various layers of MPEG-4, face and 2-D mesh animation, MPEG-4 profiles, etc.

MPEG-4 Systems Essential Patent Holders Meet to Develop a Joint License
http://www.m4if.org/patents/systems110101.html
(11.01.00)

The MPEG-4 Systems Essential Patent Holders Group, which consists of six essential M4 patent holders, met for the first time on September 10, 2001 and again on October 30, 2001. The meeting was held following an independent patent expert's finding that each of the six companies owns one or more patents essential to the international MPEG-4 Systems Standard. The group's objective is to “develop a one-stop license providing fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory worldwide access to this essential intellectual property in order to foster widespread implementation, interoperability and use of this important technology.”

MPEG LA Announces M4IF Plan for Licensing of Essential MPEG-4 Systems Patents
http://www.m4if.org/patents/090600.html
(09.06.00)

On July 29, 2000, the MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF) publicly announced a plan “aimed at providing fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory worldwide access under one license to patents that are essential for implementing the international MPEG-4 Systems standard.” This link updates the details of the formalized plan and includes a schedule for licensing evaluation and patent submission. Licensing activity scheduled to start in July 2001.

Press Releases

Envivo Announces Partnership with Denstsu, Dentsu TEC to Create and Distribute Interactive MPEG-4 Content in Japan" - Envivo Press Release
http://www.envivio.com/MIRRORSITE/pressroom/pdf/envivio_dentsu_ June2002.pdf
(06-10-02)

Envivio Inc., a leading MPEG-4 software company, today announced a partnership with Dentsu, Dentsu Tec to create and distribute interactive MPEG-4 content in Japan. This partnership brings together the world’s first full MPEG-4 solution with a top advertiser in Japan. Interest in MPEG-4 technology is rapidly growing in the Japanese market. Dentsu, Dentsu Tec, along with Envivio, will help increase the adoption of MPEG-4 as the standard for creating, managing and distributing digital content. Because the Envivio MPEG-4 product line is standards-based, customers can easily implement MPEG-4 with existing systems. With the Envivio product suite, users are also able to create content once for distribution to many devices, including, broadband, Internet and wireless.

iVAST MPEG-4 Platform Fuels Advanced Capabilities For Consumer Electronic Devices On Philips’ Nexperia Platform" - iVAST Press Release
http://www.streamingmedia.com/press/view.asp?id=1317
(06-04-02)

A crucial milestone for MPEG-4 playback in consumer devices has been achieved through an agreement announced today between the semiconductor division of Philips, and iVAST Inc., a leader in MPEG-4 interactive media platforms. Under terms of the agreement, iVAST will port its iVAST Experience Player onto Philips’ Nexperia silicon system architecture for use in next-generation digital set-top boxes, advanced DVD players and other devices, marking the first complete implementation of MPEG-4 audio/video decode and systems-layer technologies in programmable silicon.

"QuickTime 6 Public Preview" - Apple Press Release
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/preview/quicktime6/
(06-04-02)

This latest release of Apple’s cutting-edge digital media software for both Mac and Windows-based computers delivers unparalleled quality for creating, playing and streaming audio and video content over the Internet.

"On2 and Equator Extend Relationship" - Equator Technologies, Inc. Press Release
http://www.equator.com/press/articleInt.php?id=205
(05-30-02)

On2 Technologies, The Duck Corporation, an industry leader in video compression technology, and Equator Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of high performance,
programmable and power efficient System-on-a-chip processors for video streaming and image processing applications, announced that On2’s VP5 video compression technology will be ported to Equator’s high-performance BSP-15 Broadband Signal Processor (BSP) chip. The combination of On2’s VP5 codec and Equator’s BSP-15 processor will be offered on Equator’s new Tetra Hardware Platform. This new product is ideal for clients looking to deploy low bit-rate real-time TV delivery to set-top boxes.

"DynaPel MPEG-4 Security Video Encoder for the Equator BSP-15 Platform" - Equator Technologies, Inc. Press Release
http://www.equator.com/press/articleInt.php?id=202
(05-14-02)

Equator Technologies Inc., a leading provider of video streaming and processing engines and platforms, and DynaPel Systems Inc., the New York-based pioneer in digital video, announced the availability of DynaPel's advanced security CCTV MPEG-4 codec for Equator's BSP family of high-performance Broadband Signal Processor chips, which includes the MAP-CA and BSP-15 processors.

Developers

Amphion
www.amphion.com

Effectively developing key accelerators blocks for a vast range of application areas, from imaging through voice compression to channel coding. Thus, our MPEG-4 products are based on a methodology of accelerating the key
cycle consuming parts but sustaining the control elements in their rightful place of an embedded RISC/DSP or whatever suits our end customers.

AVIPIX – Multimedia Technology Solution Provider
http://www.avipix.com/

AVIPIX is a multimedia technology solutions provider for multimedia playback, authoring, delivery and streaming based on a core set of MPEG-4 compliant technologies. MPEG-4 products include: file format libraries, streaming client/peer-to-peer tools, video encoder/decoder tools, and authoring tools.

CenterSpan Communications
http://www.centerspan.com/

CenterSpan Communications provides next-generation, secure Content Delivery Network services to media and communications service providers and the enterprise. CenterSpan provides total solutions that increase ROI, speed time-to-market and improve the end-user experience. CenterSpan is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and maintains offices for its Digital Media and Entertainment Group in Los Angeles.

COMIQS – Commerce through MPEG4 on the Internet with Quality of Services
http://www.cordis.lu/infowin/acts/analysys/products/thematic/mpeg4/comiqs/ comiqs.htm

The main objective of COMIQS is the technical and service validation of a set of new paradigms introduced by recent and on-going innovations in ISO/MPEG-4/VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) and the Internet IETF.

Computer Graphics Lab Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
http://ligwww.epfl.ch/~babski/StandardBody/mpeg4/

This site released the MPEG4 Player for HANIM 1.1 Compliant VRML Body (Java release). It is based on a MPEG4 Java package which is able to read a MPEG4 ASCII BAP (Body Animation Parameters) file from a local drive or from the web. This is a beta version in order to show that the connection MPEG4-HANIM 1.1 is working on the web.

Comverse – Multimedia Messaging Center
http://63.64.185.12/featured_item/index_multimedia.htm

Comverse Multimedia Messaging Center (MMC) allows operators to offer their mobile users a full array of multimedia messaging includes: text, pictures and images and, soon to follow, high quality audio and video for Mobile-to-Mobile and mobile-to/from-Web messaging. Comverse's MMSC service works over 2.5G and 3G networks, and provides support of existing and future handsets and PDAs.

ENST – MPEG-4 Tools
http://www.comelec.enst.fr/~dufourd/mpeg-4/tools.html

This site provides numerous MPEG-4 tools and utilities with which to create, modify and display MPEG-4 files.

Envivio – MPEG-4 Streaming and Broadcast Solutions
http://www.envivio.com/

Envivio develops MPEG-4 streaming solutions specifically designed to solve both technology and business issues for the broadcast, cable network, and content developer markets. MPEG-4 products include EnvivioTV, the first fully ISO MPEG-4 compliant player; EnvivioTV can be downloaded at http://www.envivio.com/solutions/etv/login.jsp.

e-Vue – Standards-Based Secure Streaming Solutions
http://www.e-vue.com/

e-Vue offers a comprehensive suite of MPEG-4 compliant encoding and authoring tools, server technology, and players that enable the fast and efficient creation, transmission and viewing of high-quality, interactive multimedia. MPEG-4 products include: Image Studio, Image Tools for PhotoShop, and Image Viewer. You can view demos of e-Vue’s MPEG-4 still images at http://www.e-vue.com/demos/demos.cfm.

Hantro – Mobile Multimedia Company
http://www.hantro.com

Hantro creates leading edge technology that enables the mobile information society to leverage the power and value of wireless video. Hantro's product portfolio includes video applications for video capturing, play-back, messaging, streaming, and telephony.

iVAST
http://www.ivast.com

iVAST, Inc. is a leading developer of digital media creation and delivery software, based on MPEG-4. The iVAST software platform enables interactive and enhanced rich media experiences, improved content distribution, and targeted branding and advertising opportunities to a wide range of end-user devices including PCs and consumer electronic devices such as set-top boxes.

Kasenna
http://www.kasenna.com

Kasenna is a software technology company building a standards-based video delivery platform for acquiring, managing, distributing and delivering audio and video content over IP and HFC networks. Kasenna has a rich history, expertise and patent-portfolio in broadband video delivery, having pioneered one of the industry's first ever video-on-demand systems. Kasenna's award-winning MediaBase product suite runs on industry-standard platforms and allows its enterprise, broadcast, telecommunications and iTV customers to deploy scalable and cost-effective video-on-demand systems.

MPEG4IP: Open Source, Open Standards, Open Streaming
http://mpeg4ip.sourceforge.net/

MPEG4IP provides an end-to-end system to explore MPEG-4 multimedia. This site offers a package which includes many existing open source packages and the "glue" to integrate them together. Provided are an MPEG-4 AAC audio encoder, an MP3 encoder, two MPEG-4 video encoders, an MP4 file creator and hinter, an IETF standards-based streaming server, and an MPEG-4 player that can both stream and playback from local file.

Nexcode
http://www.nexcode.tv/

Nexcode's state-of-the-art technology permits video to be broadcast online at 24-30 frames per second, without cumbersome downloading and buffering like other popular technologies such as Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media Player, Apple Computer Inc.'s Quick Time or RealNetworks Inc.'s Real Player. This means that consumers will now be able to broadcast videos, commercials and movie trailers to online viewers at speeds that are up to 100 times faster than before.

nCUBE
http://www.ncube.com

nCUBE Corporation is a leading provider of on-demand media and digital advertising solutions. The company offers cable operators and telecommunications network providers the most comprehensive business and technology management solutions for advanced television services such as video-on-demand, subscription, network personal video recording and digital advertising insertion.

On2
http://www.on2.com/

With On2's VP4 Codec, broadcast quality video (DVD) can now be compressed down to one megabit per second (.12 megabytes) or less. To register for VP4 for Real beta testing, visit http://www.on2.com/vp4real/.

PacketVideo
http://www.packetvideo.com

PacketVideo is a provider of carrier class infrastructure software that enables mobilemedia today. PacketVideo’s standards-based software products enable the distribution of one- and two-way video, high-quality audio, animation and rich graphics over wireless networks to mobile devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants. PacketVideo’s mobilemedia products enhance communication, productivity, security, information and entertainment, enabling the delivery of an enriching and productive mobile experience.

Phillips Digital Networks
http://www.digitalnetworks.philips.com

WebCine is the industry' first complete suite of ISO-Standard MPEG-4 products for Internet and IP network delivery. A content author creates ISO-Standard MPEG-4 files or streams from professional or consumer audio and video signals using the WebCine Encoder. The WebCine Encoder can directly broadcast MPEG-4 streams to clients on multicast-connected networks, while the WebCine Server can stream requested MPEG-4 content to hundreds of simultaneous users. Users may download the free WebCine Player at http://www.digitalnetworks.philips.com/InformationCenter/Global/FArticle Detail.asp?lArticleId=1816&lNodeId=582&channel=582&channelId= N582A1816

Pilot Video
http://www.pilotvideo.com

Pilot Video offers expertise in video and film production, multimedia, and visual effects. They develop creative strategies to maximize clients' resources from concept through completion.

PoGo! Products
http://www.pogoproducts.com/

Flipster, the first dedicated portable multimedia player that supports a variety of multimedia formats. Smaller than a deck of cards, Flipster allows users to enjoy watching full motion videos (MPEG-4) on its full color LCD display, store and listen to MP3 audio, view high-resolution still images, record and listen to voice memos and live recordings, as well as play games.

ProjectMayo – Home of OpenDivX
http://www.projectmayo.com/index.php

Pocket DivX Player is a free Open Source multifunction video and audio player for the PocketPC platform that can play DivX, OpenDivX, MPEG-4, MPEG-1 videos and MP3 audio. The latest version can be download at http://www.projectmayo.com/projects/detail.php?projectId=9.

PsyTEL Research – Multimedia Coding Solutions
http://www.psytel-research.co.yu/

PsyTEL Research is a provider of advanced MPEG audiovisual coding technologies and services. Their audio and video coding solutions provide great quality with excellent performance. They can license binary (library) code or source (know-how) code, or develop custom turnkey solutions based on audio and video coding algorithms.

Real Networks – Real Broadcast Network (RBN) Managed Subscription Service
http://www.realnetworks.com/solutions/media/subscription.html

Are you interested in building an online revenue model, as well as building direct relationships with your consumers? Not sure you’re able to manage a complex Internet commerce solution on your own? Now there is an end-to-end solution from RBN designed for entertainment and news organizations to easily charge for consumer access to their online media assets including subscriptions and one-time payments. RBN has removed the barriers of entry to selling content on the Internet through RBN Managed Subscription Service.

Sonic Foundry
http://www.sonicfoundry.com/

Sonic Foundry develops sophisticated technology for creating, editing, managing, delivering and accessing rich media. From production through publishing, our products and services provide integrated solutions for enterprise-wide applications across a wide spectrum of professional industries.
 

WinRecorder – Artech 365
http://www.winrecorder.com/

This site provides a download of a real-time MPEG4 Video Capture/Recorder which allows one to produce AVI/WMV Files, optimized by MMX assemble code. A useful mixer and playlist are also included.
 

General Information

Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)
http://www.aac-audio.com/

This website provides up-to-date information about AAC technology, applications, products, and industry developments.

MPEG Audio FAQ
http://www.tnt.uni-hannover.de/project/mpeg/audio/faq/mpeg4.html

This page offers a comprehensive FAQ regarding MPEG audio technology and standards.

MPEG-4 Audio Web Page
http://www.tnt.uni-hannover.de/project/mpeg/audio/#web

This site provides links to all things MPEG audio, including information about audio in all the MPEG standards, FAQs about MPEG audio and other related links.

MPEG-4 Structured Audio (MP4 Structured Audio)
http://sound.media.mit.edu/mpeg4/

This site provides a starting point for those individuals who are interested in researching the MPEG-4 Structured Audio standard.

MPEG-4 Users Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.m4if.org/resources/mpeg4userfaq.php

This FAQ was developed to help answer questions about MPEG-4.

MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License Briefing
http://www.m4if.org/patents/licsum070202.zip

This PPT presentation was given in response to growing criticism of the proposed licensing terms for MPEG-4 technology. It provides an update of the MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License proposal. It includes details regarding the proposed annual caps, royalty disbursements, and charge per hour rates for the different MPEG-4 product categories.

The Patent List
http://www.mpegla.com/mpeg4/m4patentlist.html

This link provides a preliminary list of patent holders to the MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License. In order to be included in the list, the patent must be reviewed and approved by independent patent experts.

SAOL.net – Structured Audio Orchestra Language Online
http://www.saol.net/

SAOL.net is about the "Structured Audio Orchestra language" (SAOL), which is a part of the new upcoming MPEG-4 standard. Structured Audio describes a set of tools that will be the next standard for "…computer music, audio for gaming, streaming Internet music/sound, and other multimedia applications".

Organizations and Working Groups

Internet Media Streaming Alliance
http://isma.tv/index.html

The Internet Media Streaming Alliance is an organization of industry players who seek to “provide a forum for the creation of specifications that define an interoperable implementation for streaming rich media over IP networks … and accelerate the adoption of open standards for streaming rich media - video, audio, and associated data - over the Internet.”

Moving Picture Experts Group
http://mpeg.telecomitalialab.com/

Established in 1988, MPEG is a working group of the ISO/IEC and is in charge of the development of standards for coded representation of digital audio and video.

MPEG-4 Industry Forum
http://www.m4if.org/

The objective of the MPEG-4 Industry Forum is "to further the adoption of the MPEG-4 Standard, by establishing MPEG-4 as an accepted and widely used standard among application developers, service providers, content creators and end users." This site provides discussion lists, news and events, and a comprehensive list of MPEG-4 resources and links.

ViDe MPEG-4 Working Group
http://www.vide.net/workgroups/mpeg4/index.shtml

Higher education working group that investigates the status of the MPEG4 standard and technology development, tests and evaluates early technologies, creates content in MPEG4, and pursues possible development partnerships with industry.

Web3D-MPEG Working Group
http://www.web3d.org/WorkingGroups/web3d-mpeg/

The Web3D-MPEG Working Group is a Web3D Consortium Working Group established specifically to advance the ongoing convergence of Web3D and MPEG standards. This site provides related links, discussion groups and other reference information regarding the integration of 3D and MPEG-4 technology.