I believe a data packet could be an interface, (GM Video compression) between when mpeg-4 first came online and now

The following links shows time of modifications  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4

Licensing[edit]

MPEG-4 contains patented technologies which use requires licensing in countries that acknowledge software algorithm patents. Patents covering MPEG-4 are claimed by
over two dozen companies. The MPEG Licensing Authority[61] licenses patents required for MPEG-4 Part 2 Visual from a wide range of companies (audio is licensed
separately) and lists all of its licensors and licensees on the site. New licenses for MPEG-4 System patents are under development[62] and no new licenses are being
offered while holders of its old MPEG-4 Systems license are still covered under the terms of that license for the patents listed (MPEG LA – Patent List).
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MPEG LA, LLC is a firm based in Denver, Colorado that licenses patent pools covering essential patents required[1][2] for use of the MPEG-2,[3] MPEG-4 Visual (Part 2), IEEE 1394, VC-1, ATSC, MVC, MPEG-2 Systems and AVC/H.264 standards. MPEG LA also offers a license for Wireless Mesh technology. The firm is working towards pooled licensing of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG_Licensing_Authority

.......after a while this seems to be circular