[MPlayer-users] Legality of binary codecs

[Gregor Richards]

Kichigai Mentat wrote:

> On May 26, 2005, at 16.29, Gregor Richards wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
> I'm no expert on this, but I'm pretty sure the Windows Media codecs 
> are built into FFMpeg, which is an open source project. If memory 
> serves, I believe that the codecs are reverse engineered, not derived 
> from Microsoft codec software. FFMPEG is covered under the Gnu LGPL 
> and has components covered under the GPL.
>
>> Are the codecs legal to users who have valid copies of some specific 
>> license, such as an OS license with Microsoft?
>
> I would assume so. There is a Windows version of MPlayer. Unless there 
> is some kind of contract between you and Microsoft where you state 
> that you will exclusively use Microsoft's audio/video software, this 
> should be 100% legal with just about any license you hold.
>
>> Are they legal outside of the US?
>
> Well, unless the particular country has a law against them, or 
> software patents where MS holds the patents to the WMA/WMV codecs, 
> they should be.
>
>> If the binary codecs provided aren't legal for use, is there any 
>> legal way to play Windows Media content?
>
> Windows Media Player. There are (of course) Windows versions, as well 
> as Macintosh versions. VLC also has WMA/WMV playback capability and is 
> available on practically every platform imaginable.
>
>> (Not just ASF/WM* files, but the Windows Media codec itself)
>
> I'm not sure I quite understand this. Are you inquiring as to where 
> one can obtain the Windows Media codecs themselves legally? Well, as 
> states above, I believe that the FFMPEG codecs are 100% legal, so you 
> should have no problems with that.
>
> Again: I'm not lawyer, and this is all from what I remember, so I 
> wouldn't take this as law.
>
>>
>> Thanks for any response.
>>
>> - Gregor Richards
>> Open Source Software Build Engineer,
>> Intel Corp
>>
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>>
>
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>
I was under the impression that the Windows Media 9 codec was not 
supported in FFMPEG. That's what I meant to say when I said " (Not just 
ASF/WM* files, but the Windows Media codec itself) ". I'm aware that 
WM<9 support works fine, but I'm unsure whether this will be enough. At 
least for the moment that's what we're aiming for.

Also, this is on GNU/Linux systems, if that helps.

-- 
 - Gregor Richards
    Open Source Software Build Engineer,
     Intel Corp