The basic MP3 decoding and encoding technology is patent-free in the European Union, all patents having expired there. In the United States, the technology will be substantially patent-free on 31 December 2017 (see below). The majority of MP3 patents expired in the US between 2007 and 2015. COUNT 4
QSN1 Where is the basic MP3 decoding and technology patent free? ANS1 European Union QSN2 What happened to the patents that caused them to be patent-free? ANS2 expired QSN3 When will the technology be patent - free in the United States? ANS3 31 December 2017 QSN4 Between which years did most of the MP3 patents in the US expire? ANS4 2007 and 2015