[MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs

JD jd1008 at gmail.com
Wed Mar 5 05:04:13 CET 2008 

No NO NO!
I just thought that you had no not read the full message
or perhaps I was not clear enough.
So I thought I would clarify it to the best of  my ability.
That's all.
You think I am upset - I am not!

Cheers,

JD


Jing Min Zhao wrote:
> JD,
>
> Take it easy. I don't understand why you're so upset. Did I say something 
> impolite? Or my idea of benefiting from open source software makes you 
> uncomfortable? I think I have shown enough respect to you.
>
> Please remember what I said has NOT happened yet, and I have NOT decided to 
> do that yet, and for sure I will write to Real to confirm this before I do 
> anything. I don't want to make illegal money either! I come here just to see 
> if anybody has similar idea or expperience to share. Is this illegal, Mr. 
> Lawyer?
>
> Thank you anyway,
>
> Jing Min Zhao
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "JD" <jd1008 at gmail.com>
> To: "MPlayer usage questions, feature requests,bug reports" 
> <mplayer-users at mplayerhq.hu>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 10:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs
>
>
>   
>> *Apparently you did not read the full message:
>> It is possible that YOU COULD STILL BE HELD LIABLE
>> BECAUSE, YOU, AS A FOR-PROFIT-BUSINESS, ARE DIRECTLY
>> MAKING USE OF PATENTED TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT LICENSE
>> IN ORDER FOR YOU TO PROVIDE YOUR SERVICE. THE LAWYERS
>> CAN STILL TAKE YOU TO COURT FOR KNOWINGLY MAKING USE
>> OF ILLEGALLY OBTAINED PATENTED TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER FOR
>> YOU TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR A FEE.
>>
>> So, take your chances. See how much it will end up
>> costing you - perhaps less than the fees you will collect :) :)
>>
>> *
>> Jing Min Zhao wrote:
>>     
>>> JD,
>>>
>>> Yes, you're right. It should be done by customers to download the codec.
>>> Thank you for reminding me!
>>>
>>> Best rgds,
>>>
>>> Jing Min Zhao
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "JD" <jd1008 at gmail.com>
>>> To: "MPlayer usage questions, feature requests,bug reports"
>>> <mplayer-users at mplayerhq.hu>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 10:11 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> I see. So, you, Mr. Businessman, want to do the installation
>>>> and configuration of the software/hardware to "make your
>>>> customer happy"  - Right? Sorry! That still constitutes as
>>>> distribution of patented and/or copyrighted material for
>>>> profit!, and so it is illegal.
>>>> Now, if your customer already has the patented and copyrighted
>>>> codecs on his/her machine, and all YOU are doing is the
>>>> configuration and integration into "something that does fun things :)",
>>>> then you might be OK. The issue is the actual distribution of
>>>> patented/copyrighted material by any means other than purchasing from
>>>> the patern or copyright owner.
>>>> As long as it is not YOU who installs the copyrighted or patented
>>>> codec on the customer's machine, you may be OK. However, since
>>>> you are doing it for profit, AND YOU KNOW that these codecs are
>>>> indeed patented, then as a BUSINESS, you could be held liable by
>>>> the court - because you are taking action that directly makes use
>>>> of patented technology, that is obtained by your customer without
>>>> license, in order for you to provide your service.
>>>> So, as a BUSINESS, you would still be held liable.
>>>>
>>>> Of course that is just MHO.
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>> JD
>>>>
>>>> Jing Min Zhao wrote:
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>>> JD,
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes, I agree with you that it must be safe if I just sit there and tell
>>>>> people to do every step, but it's not a good service it should be. If a
>>>>> people come ask you for help to install such a system, most likely he
>>>>> sees
>>>>> this box as a DVD player, not a computer. What I mean is, he won't 
>>>>> bother
>>>>> to
>>>>> do the mysterious steps. I am supposed to do that.
>>>>>
>>>>> If nobody did the similar thing, like you said, it seems the best way 
>>>>> is
>>>>> to
>>>>> ask a lawyer.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks a lot again,
>>>>>
>>>>> Jing Min Zhao
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "JD" <jd1008 at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: "MPlayer usage questions, feature requests,bug reports"
>>>>> <mplayer-users at mplayerhq.hu>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 8:13 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>>>> If all you are doing is providing the URL's to the
>>>>>> codecs, and not putting them on a CD or an RPM and
>>>>>> distributing them, then there is no problem.
>>>>>> If your service consists of merely a bunch of steps
>>>>>> to take BY THE CUSTOERM in order to install the
>>>>>> necessary software and codecs, then you are not doing
>>>>>> anything illegal.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> JD
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jing Min Zhao wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>             
>>>>>>> JD,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you for your answer!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I know xine is not bundling patented codecs, but I'm not selling any
>>>>>>> hardware or software containing the codec, I'm just providing service
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> help people download available software and install on their 
>>>>>>> machines.
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> think this service thing should be different from that software 
>>>>>>> thing,
>>>>>>> isn't
>>>>>>> it?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jing Min Zhao
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>>> From: "JD" <jd1008 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> To: "MPlayer usage questions, feature requests,bug reports"
>>>>>>> <mplayer-users at mplayerhq.hu>
>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 5:57 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>               
>>>>>>>> Yes it does break the patent law.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In fact, even xine will not bundle patented codecs
>>>>>>>> with xine-libs.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Your best bet is to spend some money and ask a lawyer to
>>>>>>>> look into it for you.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Jing Min Zhao wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I successfuly installed this gorgeous software on my Linux box and
>>>>>>>>> made
>>>>>>>>> it an almighty DVD player for my beautiful LCD TV. My friend envies
>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>> so
>>>>>>>>> I helped him to setup a same thing. Then an idea came up to my head
>>>>>>>>> maybe
>>>>>>>>> I can help others too for some service fee. I think this is good
>>>>>>>>> since
>>>>>>>>> both I and other people will be happy, but I'm hesitating on the
>>>>>>>>> patented
>>>>>>>>> codecs.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I want to install the binary codec packages, especially the 
>>>>>>>>> RealVideo
>>>>>>>>> codec because the rmvb files are essential. Could anybody please 
>>>>>>>>> tell
>>>>>>>>> me
>>>>>>>>> whether my service of installing such a codec to people's computers
>>>>>>>>> break
>>>>>>>>> any law?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks a lot in advance,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Jing Min Zhao
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>>>>>>>>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>>>>>>>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>>>>>>>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>>>>>>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>>>>>>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>>>>>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>               
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>>>>>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>>>>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>             
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>>>>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>>>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>>>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>         
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>> _______________________________________________
>> MPlayer-users mailing list
>> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>
>>     
>
> _______________________________________________
> MPlayer-users mailing list
> MPlayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>
>

More information about the MPlayer-users mailing list