Copyright

Did you know that every MP3 player is saddled with the cost of purchasing an MP3 licence?

Yes, the people who originally developed the software / firmware that enables us to listen to digital music files demand a piece of the action for every maunfacturer who makes iPods or similar devices. Obvioulsy the people who pick up the tabe are the likes of you and me.

There's a spat underway between the people who enforce this arrangment and a manufacturer, SanDisk.

Sandisk claim that their latest MP3 player plays its MP3 files without using whatever code normally would be required. For that reason they don't think they need to pay anyone. A German trade fair was recently the scene of a raid in which SanDisk players were removed from view following a court order.

A couple of days later SanDisk got this ruling overturned and their devices reappeared. But the case rumbles on.

However - the MP3 licence can't last forever, indeed it expires in a couple of years. Expect a drop in MP3 player prices, but also be on the lookout for some new trademarked and copyrighted technology to keep that old revenue stream flowing.