Re: very rough pre-gep tentative new modules list

["Dan M." <daniel_b_mann hotmail com>]

I know this is probably a bit off topic, but what about a program that can 
convert an mp3 to another format like ogg?  And another app for proprietary 
video? Could those be included in the Gnome dist.?

Or would the conversion program step on toes even if it doesn't 
interactively display the original file contents in its proprietary state?

If I write software that can do translation, like Wine, that could 
"interpret" an mp3, even though I have never seen the code used to produce 
the mp3, am I breaking the law in the US or EU?

I guess I am naive...I don't understand how something as broad as an idea 
can be protected...maybe an implementation, but an idea?  Wouldn't a car 
engine be similar?  They all run off the same idea, but they use a different 
implementation.  It seems like Compaq would have done exactly the same thing 
I am talking about when they hired engineers to work at making a compatible 
IBM BIOS; was that legal?

The more I think about it the more it sucks.

Dan


> From: Alan Cox <alan redhat com>
> To: louie ximian com (Luis Villa)
> CC: alan redhat com (Alan Cox),desktop-devel-list gnome org (GNOME Desktop 
> List),gnome-hackers gnome org
> Subject: Re: very rough pre-gep tentative new modules list
> Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2002 10:53:13 -0400 (EDT)
>
> > > Thats a different set of pieces (CSS). The US side of it means we 
> probably
> > > cannot ship mpeg video, mpeg audio, mp3 audio, windows audio, or ac56.
> >
> > I'll worry about those when there is a prosecution or legal claim made
> > against any of them. I'm not yet aware of any.[3]
>
> For MP3 it has been made completely clear that you must pay a royalty. That
> is why many vendors have just pulled it, including Sun from its java
> media pieces. The restrictions on MP3 players mean they violate the
> Debian guidelines and cannot be "free software".
>
> > and OS/X instead of win95 and OS9, we[2]'re going to need mp3, dvd, wma,
> > etc. support. Which means either figuring out a debian-style tiered
>
> They are non-free. Provision of such tools in a "GNU" project is
> inappropriate. Ask Richard. Richard will also tell you that the FSF
> advocates campaigning to change laws but not breaking them. GNOME should
> ship only those media formats that are open. If someone outside of GNOME
> wishes to provide other formats that is for them to decide.
>
> I'm not arguing that mp3 and DVD tools are not useful, but it is
> inappropriate for the GNOME project to supply them. The GNOME project
> must have the guts to say "We cannot provide XYZ facility because it is
> not free". Freedom is not hiding in the basement saying "They haven't come
> for me yet".
>
> Alan
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