All things related to multicast

["Richard Mavrogeanes" <>]

Possible.  The DVD hardware maker is (commonly) licensed.

Apple also pays the royalty for MPEG-4 and AAC, allowing them to offer
what appears to be 'free' decoding in QuickTime.  They are also a patent
holder.

/rich


-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Draney 
[mailto:]
 
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:17 AM
To: Frank Fulchiero
Cc: Richard Mavrogeanes; 
;
;
 
;
 

Subject: Re: Legality of using VLC 


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
>