[Am-info] Question: the WMA codec

[Mitch Stone]

Perhaps someone on this list knows the answer to this question: is the 
WMA codec freely available to third parties for their use without cost 
or encumbrance? This document:

http://www.ebu.ch/trev_293-ribas.pdf

... implies that it is.

The question arises because of Apple's lack of support for WMA in 
iTunes (both for Windows and Mac) and the iPod. I'm attempting to 
determine if this was a strategic decision by Apple to promote the AAC 
format over WMA, or perhaps Microsoft's effort to force Apple to "go it 
alone" with AAC.

Thanks.


   -----------
   Mitch Stone
   mitch@accidentalexpert.com

   Every society honors its live conformists
   and its dead troublemakers.
   -- Mignon McLaughlin