On 17/05/07, Birger Kollstrand <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
IS this realy the general consensus? And if so, is it the users needs
that are being considered?
That there is no interest in adding anything regarding multimedia
because there "might" be a problem somwhere? I would gladly pay a fee
each month (like Mandrivas solution) to Novell/openSUSE if I got
access to certain closed products i need. That would also help
openSUSE and maybe make openSUSE more "free" from the corporate goals
of Novell.
Please , if the "all SW has to be GPL" fanatics run out, I will not
even consider replying.
There is no technical problem with including non-free software, there
are already several non-free packages. e.g acroread, flash player, ms
fonts etc. There is even mp3 support included in the non-free helix
plugin.
The problem arises when you want to include GPLed software which
infringes the mp3 or other patents. It is not possible for Novell to
legally both comply with the GPL and with the software patent. Even if
Novell were to licence the MP3 patent they could not distribute GPLed
software which infringes it, unless they could obtain a licence for
all future distributees. See section 7 of the GPL.
"For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free
redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly
or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it
and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the
Program."
Multimedia support is already included via non-free software. Many
people want multimedia support in their free software too, but Novell
cannot legally do this due to the patent law in the US and the GPL.
I would expect it to be an approach to find solutions to this problem
rather than to roll over and play dead.
Solution is to abolish the US patent system. Unfortunately as Novell
is an American company and not based in a more enlightened part of the
world they are subject to patent issues.
_
Benjamin Weber
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