why does mp3 cost to broadcast?

[zetaf]

why does it have to cost now to just broadcast mp3 files on radio?
wouldnt this just discourage ppl to go over to icecast as its still free to broadcast mp3 there

[jaromanda]

Originally Posted by zetaf

go over to icecast as its still free

but is it legal?

[zetaf]

why was the old shoutcast free then? and now suddenly it cost 5 usd per month?

[jaromanda]

Originally Posted by zetaf

why was the old shoutcast free then? and now suddenly it cost 5 usd per month?

per month?

[zetaf]

doesnt the mp3 license broadcast cost 5 usd per month

[jaromanda]

I know it costs $5 USD ... but nowhere do I see if that's once off, per year, per month, per day, per second!!!

[DrO]

http://dev.winamp.com/wiki/SHOUTcast...tream_Encoding is basically why (along with Aol going through most projects and sorting out things where there were potential legal issues, etc) and it's a one-off payment for the license (so where the thing about it being per month has come from i don't know).

as you can see from that link, aac is also licensed but that's been paid for you - i believe it's just too much to do a flat mp3 license for all users hence going with a per-user option.

-daz

[Greg_E]

Is this just for SC_trans or does it also apply to using Winamp as the encoder?

[DrO]

is just for sc_trans. is the one thing i've wondered about with the DSP not having that restriction (though i'd assume if nothing has been done then legal are ok with it though i really don't know and i don't want to ask incase it causes issues) especially as i've been toying with the idea of making the DSP use enc_lame instead of redistributing the lamedll.dll as it does.

-daz

[Greg_E]

Well they do make you buy the MP3 encoder for ripping CDs, maybe no one really cares too much about the streaming part or the negotiated for the streaming part so that it could be included.

[DrO]

dunno and i'm not going to push it

-daz

[getraf]

Thanks for the knowledgeable answers DrO. Helpful indeed.