On August 20, 2005 02:16, Anne Wilson wrote: > On Saturday 20 Aug 2005 01:02, John Layt wrote: > > Do you just want to play commercial DVD's, or do you also want to play > > other formats like windows media or divx (I'm guessing with a slow > > dial-up you don't need streaming media from the web)? I don't think all > > those PLF player and codec files are required for just watching DVD's. > > True, about the codecs, but you will not be able to play encrypted DVDs, > and many of them are, without libdvdcss. By all means try the Mandriva > versions of the players first, but sometimes you need to have a plf > version to play those encrypted ones - though that may not be so with the > latest version. It's some times since I tried it. > > Anne
The legal situation hasn't changed any. In the US, under the DMCA, decrypting an encrypted DVD without using licensed software and paying an appropriate license fee is a criminal act. When you buy a DVD you're only buying the plastic, and a restricted license to the data on it. That restricted license does not give you the right to decrypt the data you'e paid for! And of course, there are no legally licensed decryption programs available for Linux (you wouldn't expect anything else, would you?) This particular brand of IP insanity only exists in the US, AFAIK. But the US is working hard pressuring other countries to adopt it as well, under threat of trade sactions. For now, if you're outside the US, it's probably legal to install libdvdcss and enjoy the DVDs you've paid for (but IAMAL). If Mandriva, or any other Linux company, included libdvdcss, they would face the possibility of being banned in the US. Not to mention having their employees arrested if they ever set foot there. Don't laugh, I'm not exaggerating, it's already happened. Google on "DVD Jon" and see what kind of police state the US has become. -- Ron ronhd at users dot sourceforge dot net Opinions expressed here are all mine. "As you know, necessity is the mother of invention. I don't know who the father is. Remorse, I guess." - Red Green
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