[MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs

[JD]

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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>           
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>>>>
>>>>         
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>>>
>>>       
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>>     
>
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