I don't mean to start a flame war - I really hadn't understood that there was a Windows version of MPlayer until today. I'd seen it recommended on Linux mailing lists and forums, but never clued in to the Windows version. So I've spent much of the day playing with it, and reading documentation and manpages and trying different things out. Much different than trying to coerce Windows Media Player into doing some of the same things... However, my question relates to the restrictions on use of MPlayer due to its GPL license. I've spent some time reading the various FAQs and searching on Google for clarifications. Basically, it looks to me like MPlayer would be a great tool in a systems integration project I have. It's a commercial thing, where my client wants to maintain control of the solution. Part of the needed solution is some playback functionality, for which I'd originally thought I'd be using Windows Media Player embedded in a program that I'd write. The major part of what the project does is the creation of a playlist (though that's a much simpler description than what's really going on). The playback of the playlist isn't really a "key part" - there are a few ways to do that part. So, back to my question: What's the point at which the integration/usage of MPlayer becomes "too integral" so that I'd be required to GPL the entire solution? Please note: I'm not expecting legal advice from the list. However, I'd appreciate pointers to articles or FAQs that deal with this as explicitly as possible. Basically, if it's too gray, I'll give up on the idea of using MPlayer further and pursue a different approach. But if it's not too extreme to consider using it, then it might save me some work. I could ask my own lawyer, I know, but he'd end up charging me for the time he'd spend asking the same question on his lawyer lists. If I can get something that says "no, you can't do it because..." then you'll have saved me some money. If my outline seems OK with respect to the use of GPL programs "at arm's length" with commercial software, then maybe it's worth the money for my lawyer's opinion, too. Thanks for the tool, and your help.