Disappearing MP3 Encoders

John Hayward-Warburton writes "A group of people at 8hz.com have been developing an MP3 encoder in an open way (just download the source and join the mailing list if you wish): but the people at the Fraunhofer Institute (who, among others, hold the patents to parts of the MP3 encoding process) have asked to discuss the payment of licence fees to the Institute. Accordingly, the programs have been removed from the websites where they were being developed. This is a sad day for people who thought they were free to help develop good-sounding data-reduction for audio. One of the letters is now now on show. "