[MPlayer-users] Legality of binary codecs

[Gregor Richards]

What is the legality status on the array of binary codecs provided at 
MPlayerHQ.hu?  I am particularly interested in Windows Media codecs in a 
business environment (that is, with intranet distribution), in the 
United States prmarily but also worldwide if possible.  Are the codecs 
legal to users who have valid copies of some specific license, such as 
an OS license with Microsoft?  Are they legal outside of the US?  If the 
binary codecs provided aren't legal for use, is there any legal way to 
play Windows Media content?  (Not just ASF/WM* files, but the Windows 
Media codec itself)

Thanks for any response.

 - Gregor Richards
    Open Source Software Build Engineer,
     Intel Corp