Brian Cameron wrote: > Stephen: >> If Songbird is distributed as GPL, and it uses GStreamer under LGPL (and >> thus converts GStreamer to GPL via section 3 of the LGPL), why would >> that stop you from using the Fluendo one (which is distributed via MIT)? > > The LGPL is a more lenient license, and does not have the issues that > GPL has. Therefore there is no issue linking the MP3 plugin into LGPL > GStreamer. > > However, it is a problem to link LGPL GStreamer with a plugin that > contains patent restrictions (such as the requirement of paying a fee) > into a GPL end-user application, such as rhythmbox or Songbird. > > Just because the Fluendo code is released under the MIT license does > not mean that the licensing restrictions (you must pay a fee) do not > apply to the Fluendo MP3 code. You could think of this code as being > dual-licensed - under both the MIT license and the license associated > with MPEG. Another way to look at it is the plugin code that does > not involve the MPEG patents is under the MIT license. > >> Or is the GStreamer MP3 decoder plugin you're using the binary Sorenson >> one referenced in the gstreamer.freedesktop.org FAQ you linked below? >> Our current release (0.5) is licensed under GPL, due to our dependency >> on VLC for Mac/Windows. For 0.6 we can move to something like MPL since >> we'll be moving to GStreamer on all three platforms. > > If Songbird is GPL, then it would have the same issue. You would not > be able to distribute Songbird which uses GStreamer and a MP3 decoder > at the same time. > > I am not familiar with the MPL, but if it allows you to link in such > code that has licensing restrictions, then the MPL might be okay. > >> I'm actually refining our licensing stuff now, so it's possible I can >> look into adding an exemption like what Totem has - but I just want to >> make sure I fully understand all the issues first. :) Knowing exactly >> which MP3 decoder plugin you're talking about would help me I think.. > > Providing an exception like Totem has would be a good thing, just to > be clear. Providing such an exception with the GPL license is also > a way to resolve the issue. However, the totem exception only allows > GStreamer plugins that have such licensing restrictions. You might > want a more general exception that allows any backend plugins - in > case you might want to support other backends aside from GStreamer > in the future.
All the Mozilla copyright holders would have to agree to a GPL license exception, which is infeasible - the last Mozilla relicensing took years. Switching to MPL would be a business decision by PotI. So reusing the Firefox plugin finder for the MP3 plugin is probably the most straightforward solution, if not the most user-friendly. -- James Andrewartha
