Support MP3 format in Debian

[bartw@xs4all.nl (Bart Warmerdam)]

  Hi,

  I just read an article on mp3 (http://slashdot.org/features/980412118226.shtml)
  which suggests that royalties are a problem for distributions to ship
  mp3-players.

  I am not a guru on the legal dept., but how does this affect mpg123 and
  others in Debian? I hope this is not a problem for us -> (mpg123 being in
  non-free)

  Quote in the article: "
         [snip]
         This is a big problem in itself - it means
         that many distributions of Linux or other operating systems will not
         be able to distribute such software on principle, and that projects like
         KDE and GNOME that aim to be free software cannot provide fully
         integrated MP3 support on the desktop. Worse yet, users will never
         be able to get any MP3 player on CD, even a semi-free one, because
         the royalties kick in when the software is distributed for any fee, even
         a copying fee, and even if the software is freely redistributable."
                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

--
B. Warmerdam                                                   GNU/Debian Linux
bartw@xs4all.nl ,bartw@debian.org,                             ----------------
b.warmerdam@pecoma.nl, pec236@worldonline.nl        http://www.xs4all.nl/~bartw
Keyid: 10A0FDD1   Fingerprint: CE CC D5 5F A5 D2 7B F0  C0 87 26 FE D1 3A CE 68


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