[MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs

[Jing Min Zhao]

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
>