[MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs

Wed Mar 5 04:58:36 CET 2008

JD,

Take it easy. I don't understand why you're so upset. Did I say something 
impolite? Or my idea of benefiting from open source software makes you 
uncomfortable? I think I have shown enough respect to you.

Please remember what I said has NOT happened yet, and I have NOT decided to 
do that yet, and for sure I will write to Real to confirm this before I do 
anything. I don't want to make illegal money either! I come here just to see 
if anybody has similar idea or expperience to share. Is this illegal, Mr. 
Lawyer?

Thank you anyway,

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 10:38 PM
Subject: Re: [MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs

> *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
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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