[MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs

Wed Mar 5 04:38:43 CET 2008

*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
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>>>>> https://lists.mplayerhq.hu/mailman/listinfo/mplayer-users
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>           
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>>>>
>>>>         
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>>>       
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>>     
>
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