It SEEMS to say that you only pay if you develop *decoders*, not applications. I *think* you can develop applications that use MS-Windows built in MP3 codecs. You're not writing the decoder, so I don't think you pay royalties.But it says "Player" and "decoder".PC Software applications which incorporate mp3 / mp3PRO decoding (player, decoder) and software applications incorporating mp3 / mp3PRO encoding capabilities (encoder, ripper, recorder, jukebox).
The impression I got was you don't have to pay anything if you are giving your software away for free, it is only if you are recieving money in exchange for a product where you are using either a player/decoder that you have written yourself or from a third party, as below(some freeware programs required the user to supply an encoder).
[EDIT] This has already been answered in a post hasn't it![/EDIT]
I have to admit, they are not that clear on the exact details are they, and there are some somewhat glaring ommisions from the list of licensees, but if they do own the patent on MP3's then you would imagine you would have to pay a fee.This patent-only license is needed in case the mp3 software is developed in-house or licensed from a third party.
Dunno, I think we need a lawyer.