[MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs

[Jing Min Zhao]

I'm glad you're not upset now. Good night then.
-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 11:04 PM
Subject: Re: [MPlayer-users] A question about patented codecs


> No NO NO!
> I just thought that you had no not read the full message
> or perhaps I was not clear enough.
> So I thought I would clarify it to the best of  my ability.
> That's all.
> You think I am upset - I am not!
>
> Cheers,
>
> JD
>
>
> Jing Min Zhao wrote:
>> 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
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>>>> 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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