[MPlayer-dev-eng] HW for open standard video and audio formats

[Rich Felker]

On Thu, Apr 21, 2005 at 06:22:47PM -0700, RC wrote:
> On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 19:45:01 -0400
> Rich Felker <dalias at aerifal.cx> wrote:
> 
> > While you're at it, add MP3. It's just as open as Vorbis and Theora
> > and snow...
> 
> Vorbis/Theora are untested in court, and debatable, but probably
> legal.

This is a blatent lie. Theora uses the EXACT SAME ALGORITHMS as
mpeg1/2. Vorbis uses lots of the same algorithms as mpeg audio and
WMA. (Yes Vorbis probably is the prior art but that doesn't stop
M$/etc. from patenting the algorithms later...)

So please... Stop repeating Xiph propaganda!!

> MP3, however, is clearly patented, and will be some time before
> the patent expires in the USA.

This is no different from everything else. Everything is patented
because patent offices are incompetent at doing their job of verifying
the claims made in patent applications. If you hire a competent patent
researcher and have them look at ANY NONTRIVIAL PROGRAM they will find
it infringes on numerous (albeit invalid by obviousness and prior art)
patents.

Rich