Re: mpeg encoder patents, Was: Bug#501190: ITP: moonlight

[Robert Millan <rmh@aybabtu.com>]

On Wed, Oct 08, 2008 at 04:30:09PM -0700, Russ Allbery wrote:
> [...].  I have absolutely no idea whether any
> of the software that I package is affected by some patent.

You're putting all patents in the same bag, and it's not like that.  For
example, if you distribute a windowing system, you're most likely violating
lots of "crap patents" and can't tell which ones, but if you distribute
LAME, you can be sure as hell you are infringing patents from Fraunhofer.

And with Moonlight and Microsoft, you have the added bonus that the authors
themselves paid their tax and politely let you know that you have to pay as
well.

-- 
Robert Millan

  The DRM opt-in fallacy: "Your data belongs to us. We will decide when (and
  how) you may access your data; but nobody's threatening your freedom: we
  still allow you to remove your data and not access it at all."