Is Lame MP3 codec is for personal or commercial?

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

Hello,

I have a question. Is Lame MP3 codec in Poland is free for commercial use? Can I create sounds in the program Audacity and export MP3 codec (LAME) for commercial use? I would like to sell customers the audio material but do not know if the codec is for personal or commercial?

2

We are not lawyers. You must consult your own lawyer in Poland. You can use Audacity itself for commercial purposes.

See Missing features - Audacity Support and you can show your lawyer http://www.mp3licensing.com/help/index.html#5.

Gale

3

If you’re worried about it you can always download iTunes from the Apple website (free to download and use) - export WAV files from Audacity, import tme into iTunes and then use iTunes to convert to MP3.

My understanding is that Apple has paid Frauenhofer Institute for a license for this encoder - so this route should have no legal pitfalls (but, like Gale, I am not a lawyer).

WC

4

I don’ know how this applies to Poland…

The LAME encoder that you download for Audacity is not licensed. If you distribute an MP3 CODEC, you are supposed to [u]pay a royalty[/u] Obviously, nobody is paying the royalty. The Audacity team does not distribute LAME, but they tell you where to get it.

Unfortunately, as an end-user you can’t pay the royalty yourself… If you want a licensed copy you have to get the MP3 encoder from a company that distributes licensed encoders. But, I’ve never heard of them going after any one for using an a unlicensed MP3 encoder. They have sued people & companies for distributing unlicensed encoders.

Distribution of the actual MP3s is covered by a [u]different license[/u] but the good news is you don’t need to pay a royalty unless your annual revenues are $100,000 USD or more.

5

The country is relevant because if a country does not fully respect applicable patents then the patents are unenforceable in that country.

Also the MP3 patents are slowly expiring and this varies from country to country. A lawyer told me a year ago that MP3 patents are no longer enforceable in the UK, but patents can be reapplied for. You need to speak to your lawyer.

I would still recommend a lawyer to review that. It says that non-commercial activities generating less than $100,000 are exempt. Does that mean that commercial activities generating less than $100,000 are exempt?


Gale