On Sun, Feb 13, 2005 at 08:54:40AM -0500, Adam Prentice wrote: > I'm new to linux, and over the past few weeks while trying to get a mythtv > box set up I've learned about mplayer and how it's in the PLF. Seems like > this community picks and chooses which controversial programs or plugins are > allowed to be used and discussed. Why is this?
mplayer is not created nor supplied by the MythTV folks. It may *be* of questionable legality, but such questions attach directly to the end user, who may be using codecs supplied under overly-restrictive licenses with it. > From what I can tell, torrentocracy is not illegal, even in the United > States. And...mplayer seems like it may break more IP laws than > torrentocracy...or at least there's enough of a possibility that it's not > included in the Mandrake distribution. I don't know about other linux > distributions, but those of us who use Mandrake are forced to get their > software from another country in order to make mythtv work. Maybe I'm wrong > about mplayer, like I said....I'm new to linux. In the case of broadcatching plugins, they actually are *plugins*, at least in some cases, and the issue is whether MythTV.org should distribute them (at least, that's the issue as *I* understand it). Clearly, in a case like that, the liability would attach directly to the Myth people, and as was noted, we don't need Isaac being sued by the MPAA. He might win, but he can't afford to play the game. If this prior restraint by dint of threat of litigation sickens you, as it does me and so many others, contact your US Congressmen and encourage tort reform -- as in the UK, where the loser in a civil suit must pay the winner's attorney. Cheers, -- jra -- Jay R. Ashworth [EMAIL PROTECTED] Designer Baylink RFC 2100 Ashworth & Associates The Things I Think '87 e24 St Petersburg FL USA http://baylink.pitas.com +1 727 647 1274 If you can read this... thank a system adminstrator. Or two. --me
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