"There are many cases where one company's IP has become a de facto or industry agreed upon standard and then other companies who need or use the IP pay licenses and royalties. The key is to make certain the fees and royalties are "fair and reasonable""

Yeah, I'm sure that is what they would have gotten from the VoiceTimes Alliance standards initiative...lol

I can agree to some point, however, e.Digital is not SNDK.........if you might consider say SNDK / FTL an industry flash standard.

e.Digital has not formed a consortium like SNDK did...yet

A standard that collects fees, as you consider, is only a standard to a consortium, ....e.g SNDK.

I do not consider that type arrangement a standard.

Standards in general, industry wide..... mean free ..

doni