Re: [gentoo-dev] avifile ebuild requires divx4linux and win32codecs on x86

[Jon Lech Johansen]

On Mon, Apr 28, 2003 at 02:24:30PM +0200, Fredrik Jagenheim (humming@×××××.com) wrote:
> Yes, but don't forget the reason for copyright to be there in the
> first place; to protect the investment and make sure that you can make
> money of that investment in the future. I think that by putting
> something on the web for free download, without putting any
> restrictions on it, they've made it clear that they don't mind if
> these codecs are spread further. Not the same as, but quite similar
> to, email and Usenet postings. Note how many companies, including
> Microsoft and Apple, /do/ put restrictions on nearly everything else
> they publish on the web.

I tried installing the Microsoft codec packs today, including the one
Tony Clark pointed out, and they *are* subject to license agreements.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/format/codecdownload.aspx

WM9Codecs.exe:
* "Microsoft reserves all rights not expressly granted to you in this
Supplemental EULA."
* "You may reproduce, install and use one copy of the OS Components on
each of your computers that is running a validly-licensed copy of the
applicable OS Software, provided that you use each such additional copy
of the OS Components in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Supplemental EULA."

wmpcdcs8.exe:
* "Reproduction. If you have multiple validly licensed copies of the
applicable OS Product, you may reproduce, install and use one copy of
the OS Components as part of such OS Product on all of your computers
running validly licensed copies of the applicable OS Product provided
that you use such additional copies of the OS Components in accordance
with the terms and conditions above. For each validly licensed copy of
the applicable OS Product, you also may reproduce one additional copy of
the OS Components solely for archival purposes or reinstallation of the
OS Components on the same computer as the OS Components were previously
installed.  Microsoft retains all right, title and interest in and to
the OS Components.  All rights not expressly granted are reserved by
Microsoft."

Also for reference:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/player.aspx
MPSetup.exe:

* "Microsoft reserves all rights not expressly granted to you in this
Supplemental EULA."
* "You may reproduce, install and use one copy of the OS Components on
each of your computers that is running a validly licensed copy of the
applicable OS Software, provided that you use each such additional copy
of the OS Components in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Supplemental EULA."

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone/
QuickTimeInstaller.exe:

* "Apple reserves all rights not expressly granted to you."
* "Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.  This License allows you to
install and use one copy of the Apple Software on a single computer at a
time. This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more
than one computer at a time, and you may not make the Apple Software
available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at
the same time.  You may make one copy of the Apple Software in
machine-readable form for backup purposes only; provided that the backup
copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained
on the original."

> If they did have any comments on gentoo mirroring their codecs, I
> think that your initial letters to their legal deparments would have
> atleast generated some response other than total silence.

It's been less than 3 working days.
 
-- 
Jon Lech Johansen
jon@××××××××××.org
nanocrew.net/blog/

Stat sua cuique dies, breve et inreparabile tempus
omnibus est vitae; sed famam extendere factis,
hoc virtutis opus.

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