Streaming Media has published an article written by industry expert, John Simmons, who reports on the history of video codec Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) licensing and how it relates to video streaming services. Simmons argues that the video streaming’s enormous growth was the result of royalty free licensing of essential streaming technologies and a bargain struck to charge device makers the bulk of the royalties for SEP codec licensing while charging streaming video companies only a low nominal fee for subscription and other paid content. New uncertainty created by outfits like Avanci’s Video pool and others asserting against video streamers will only lead to less consumer choice, technologies, and services.