Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

wg-multicast - Re: Legality of using VLC

Subject: All things related to multicast

List archive

Re: Legality of using VLC


Chronological Thread 
  • From: Brent Draney <>
  • To: Frank Fulchiero <>
  • Cc: Richard Mavrogeanes <>, , , ,
  • Subject: Re: Legality of using VLC
  • Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:17:18 -0700
  • Comments: In-reply-to Frank Fulchiero <> message dated "Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:49:56 -0400."


I believe that Apple gets away with this because every machine
they sell has a dvd and their os only runs on machines they sell.
(the above may not be entirely true with OpenDarwin)

This sounds like a one-to-one and onto argument for equivalence
to me.
Anyone by this argument?

Brent

>
> On Apr 2, 2007, at 10:24 PM, Richard Mavrogeanes wrote:
>
> > VLC does not pay the royalty...which is some $2.50 per decoder
> > instance for MPEG-2 alone, and a different schedule for MPEG-4.
> > This is, by the way, why Microsoft does not include a MPEG-2 decoder.
>
> If you have a DVD player in the computer, you (or someone) has
> already paid to use the MPEG-2 decoder. Why should one have to pay
> the decoder license twice?
>
> > <opinion>
> > The patent holders and the firm that represents them are too greedy
> > and make it far too difficult for an institution to be legal. A
> > VLC user wishing to follow the rules is presented with an absurd
> > agreement that only makes sense for vendors.
> >
> > If a computer has a licensed decoder (e.g. a DVD player), then I
> > would argue the royalty has been paid. But VLC makes no
> > distinction and therefore users risk infringement.
> >
> > On the other hand, going 55 mph in a 50 mph zone is illegal, but I
> > don't see too many people pulled over for this unless it's a police
> > 'excuse' for something else (and that may be the real risk VLC
> > users run).
> > </opinion>
>
> I'm not sure I agree with the above. Apple is hosting VLC downloads
> on their own servers, and they have pretty savvy lawyers. I doubt
> they would host a program that was inherently illegal to use, or
> inherently put their downloaders at risk.
>
> They also work with the MPEG2 and MPEG4 licensing agencies on other
> issues, it would be hard to "hide" their VLC hosting.
>
> The situation is more that Apple is offering you a free legal car to
> drive, and it's only illegal if you drive it over the speed limit.
>
> The legality is what VLC is being used for, I believe. Just like a
> copying machine is legal, but not if you copy and distribute
> copyrighted works.
>
> Have you heard of anyone being sued for using VLC, or been asked to
> stop using it?
>
> Frank Fulchiero
> Digital Media Specialist
> Connecticut College
>





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.16.

Top of Page