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Re: Bug#176267: ITP: mplayer -- Mplayer is a full-featured audioand video player for UN*X like systems



On Sat, 25 Jan 2003, Gabucino wrote:
> Well, until we were 100% GPL we only distributed the source - which
> is in turn free speech. Thus I don't really see what are you pointing
> at.

The questionable inclusion in mplayer of libraries that were under the
GPL, for one.[1]

The defacto forbiding people to distribute binaries at all whilst
using GPLed code.[2]

The open ignorance of other people's licenses, basically daring them
to sue.[3]

In addition there aren't any indication in libmpeg2 and the other
libraries included in mplayer as to what changes have been made to
them, as required by the GPL's Terms and Conditions... section 2,
subsection a:

  a) You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices
  stating that you changed the files and the date of any change.[4]

$ diff MPlayer-0.90rc1/libmpeg2 mpeg2dec-0.3.1/libmpeg2/|wc -l
   5715

[This isn't exactly fair, but I kind of doubt that there haven't been
any changes to the libmpeg2 source... and more importantly, there are
files normally distributed with mpeg2dec that are not included with
Mplayer-0.90rc1.]

Now that all of that has been said, I personally would like to see
mplayer be able to enter debian.[5]

However, I'm not sure if there is anyone crazy enough to package it,
wander through the morass of -legal that needs to be done,
sponsor/upload it, and then deal with upstream as well. If the mplayer
developers and/or debian developers wish to prove me wrong, by all
means, do so.


Don Armstrong

1: http://mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/2001-October/005448.html
2: http://mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/2001-October/005366.html
3: http://mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/mplayer-users/2001-October/005460.html
4: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html
5: If for no other reason than to stop answering "where can I get
   mplayer?" questions on #debian.

-- 
She was alot like starbucks.                                    
IE, generic and expensive.                                  
 -- hugh macleod http://www.gapingvoid.com/batch3.htm

http://www.donarmstrong.com
http://www.anylevel.com
http://rzlab.ucr.edu

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