We’ve heard about patent infringement claims for music storage and scheduling software, HD Radio, and now — AES67 — a standard for networked audio over IP.
A spike in interest in AoIP “has led certain manufacturers of broadcast audio networking equipment to claim intellectual property patent rights over implementations of AES67, damping broadcasters’ enthusiasm for the standard and the technology behind it,” according to The Telos Alliance.
Telos Alliance Chief Science Officer Greg Shay says that while the company has heard of cases in which broadcasters received notifications telling them that AES67 infringes on pre-existing patents, “I’m here to tell you, that’s not the case.”
The principles of AES67 are contained in Axia Audio Livewire audio over IP technology and the prior art, says Shay. “Livewire was introduced in 2003 and became a commercial success around the world years before these other patent claims were filed.”
AES67 has been implemented in the Telos Axia Audio xNode AoIP interface in products that have been shipping since November 2013. “During that time, no communication, contact, injunction, or any notice of infringement has been received from any third party; clear evidence that implementing AES67 has not subjected The Telos Alliance to any third-party claims,” according to Shay.
Telos was a member of the X.192 working group that developed the AES67 specification.
“We are making our own relevant patents and intellectual property available without cost for use in implementations of AES67,” says the company. “With that in mind, we’re calling on this company to abandon any claims of intellectual property rights over implementations of AES67, and join the Telos Alliance and the rest of the industry in unfettered support of this standard.”
RW has contacted Telos for more information about what company, or companies, are making the IP infringement claims.
In the meantime, Telos wants customers, and potential customers to know, “AES67 is safe.”
