It's considered non-free because it violates a German patent on mp3-encoding. Therefore you would have to get a license to use it in some countries, to be strictly legal. Toolame is actually mpeg layer-2, which is playable in pretty much all mpeg layer-3 players, and therefore gets around the patent (which is what it was specifically designed for).
This is similar to Java. The most recent version of the jdk in debian main is jdk1.1 To get a more recent version, you have to find a package that isn't supported by debian. pine has problems as well. You have to compile it from source due to legal restrictions. Debian seems to have the strongest adherence to its ideals of free software, and they refuse to package software that they don't consider free, even if there's little to no danger of being sued. Jun-Dai > -----Original Message----- > From: Erik Curiel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 2:11 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [Bits] linux mpeg encoders recommendations > > > > debian doesn't include lame (it's considered non-free), and so rather > > Why is it considered non-free? It's licensed under the LGPL. That's > sounds pretty free to me. > > E > > -- > Erik Curiel > almost software-architect/would-be philosopher > > "... there has never been an intelligent person over the age of sixty who > would consent to live his life over again. His or anyone else's." > > -- Mark Twain, "Letters from the Earth" > > _______________________________________________ > Bits mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.sugoi.org/mailman/listinfo/bits _______________________________________________ Bits mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.sugoi.org/mailman/listinfo/bits
