[LINK] Linux codecs [Was: Role of Government in National ICT Policy]

[Marghanita da Cruz]

David,

Here is the Perverse Legal Reason:
> Like all MP3 encoders, LAME implements some technology covered by patents owned by the Fraunhofer Society and other entities.[2] The developers of LAME do not themselves license the technology described by these patents. Distributing compiled binaries of LAME, its libraries, or programs that derive from LAME in countries that recognize those patents may be patent infringing.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAME>

DVDs are slightly different as MPEG2/DVD license is Hardware based.
My previous laptop came with MSWindows and DVD player even though I never
used the MS software, I would argue that I was entitled to use the DVD
license with Linux.

However, my current NETBook does not have a DVD. However, DVD licenses and
decoding could be hardware based. Many TVs and phones run Linux, with
licenses for H.264, in the case of phones and MPEG2 in the case of TVs/Set
Top Boxes.

> MPEG LA's MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License provides access to patents that are essential to the MPEG-2 Video and Systems coding standards used in set-top boxes, DVD players and recorders, TVs, personal computers, game machines, cameras, DVD Video Discs and other products. Wide acceptance of the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License has helped produce the most widely employed standard in consumer electronics history. 
<http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/M2/Pages/Intro.aspx>

Marg

David Boxall wrote:
> On 29/02/2012 9:03 AM, Marghanita da Cruz wrote:
>> It is not a software problem - it is the decoder. ...
> Which you chose not to install. MP3 codecs are available for Linux 
> (LAME, for one). They just aren't in most distros, out of the "box", for 
> perverse legal reasons. I gather we can't legally play a DVD under Linux 
> either, but that doesn't stop anyone (nor even slow them down much).
> 


-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
Ramin Communications (Sydney)
Website: http://ramin.com.au
Phone:(+612) 0414-869202