They ignore patents and hope it isn't a problem. Not an option for a us-based corporation. "Q: Does FFmpeg use patented algorithms? A: We do not know, we are

They ignore patents and hope it isn't a problem. Not an option for a us-based corporation. "Q: Does FFmpeg use patented algorithms? A: We do not know, we are not lawyers so we are not qualified to answer this. Also we have never read patents to implement any part of FFmpeg, so even if we were qualified we could not answer it as we do not know what is patented. Furthermore the sheer number of software patents makes it impossible to read them all so no one (lawyer or not) could answer such a question with a definite no, those who do lie. What we do know is that various standards FFmpeg supports contain vague hints that any conforming implementation might be subject to some patent rights in some jurisdictions. . ." http://www.ffmpeg.org/legal.html http://www.ffmpeg.org/legal.html