This matters because MPEG-4 Visual (Part 2) is still the decoder behind many legacy AVI/MP4 files, and patent expiry is why modern browsers can ship H.264/AVC and AV1 freely. The last Dolby BR patent expiring Jan 2026 and this Siemens one expiring now means the full MPEG-4 Visual portfolio is effectively free to implement in Brazil — relevant for any project that avoided MPEG-LA licenses for the Brazilian market. Worth checking if Via LA has formally closed the portfolio.
This matters because MPEG-4 Visual (Part 2) is still the decoder behind many legacy AVI/MP4 files, and patent expiry is why modern browsers can ship H.264/AVC and AV1 freely. The last Dolby BR patent expiring Jan 2026 and this Siemens one expiring now means the full MPEG-4 Visual portfolio is effectively free to implement in Brazil — relevant for any project that avoided MPEG-LA licenses for the Brazilian market. Worth checking if Via LA has formally closed the portfolio.