RealNetworks will release open-source software this year that will let Linux computers play Windows Media files legally. The media delivery software company and Novell made the announcement at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo. Novell said it will include the tool in its Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 in the fourth quarter.
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Member since:2005-07-06
There is no problem at all with the original argument. If Windows users using WMP are directed to a 3rd party (ie not Microsoft) site to get separate Apple or Real codecs for WMP, then there can be no valid reason why Linux users should be disallowed from also obtaining the exact same files from the exact same website.
There are no seperate Apple or Real codecs for WMP distributed by those respective companies.
Ergo, using those separate binary codecs on Linux is no more or less of a grey area than it is using them for WMP in Windows.
If they existed, they could be used (i.e., the end-user downloads them) but they can't be redistributed and Apple, Real, et al., have no obligation to support their use on platforms they didn't distribute the codec for.
Member since:2005-11-11
//If they existed, they could be used (i.e., the end-user downloads them) but they can't be redistributed and Apple, Real, et al., have no obligation to support their use on platforms they didn't distribute the codec for.//
One would not ask for support. One just asks for exactly the same rights as users of other platforms.
If I must download their entire player and run it under Wine or Win4Lin or VMware or whatever, then so be it. I have as much right to download it from them as any other user does, regardless of what OS I use. Once I have downloaded it and installed it under Wine, I can then point other media players of my preference at their codec.
There is no way that using their codec under Linux is essentially different to using it under Windows.
Ergo, my use of it when running Linux is no different to your use of it if you were running Winows. We have exactly the same legal status under the law.
Edited 2006-08-16 11:31
Member since:
2005-11-11
//The problem with this argument is that neither Real nor Apple have ever offered their codecs via Windows Media Player's download mechanism. In fact, they've never made standard codecs available directly to Windows users, instead preferring to push their respective player applications (which do contain EULAs). The seperate codecs available on the net for those formats are distributed without license or permission of Real or Apple. Also, with the exception of MS codecs, WMP's auto download functionality doesn't install codecs, it just redirects the user to http://www.wmplugins.com/ where users can download the necessary codecs if available.//
There is no problem at all with the original argument. If Windows users using WMP are directed to a 3rd party (ie not Microsoft) site to get separate Apple or Real codecs for WMP, then there can be no valid reason why Linux users should be disallowed from also obtaining the exact same files from the exact same website.
Ergo, using those separate binary codecs on Linux is no more or less of a grey area than it is using them for WMP in Windows.
It is the exact same position for either end platform.
Edited 2006-08-16 05:02