"With the release of Windows Vista, using your PC to watch and record TV has become a whole lot easier. Now, for the first time, Windows Media Center comes bundled with Home Premium and Ultimate versions of the standard Desktop operating system. However, Vista is pricey, and its form and function are of course dictated by Microsoft. If you want full control over your Home Theater PC, and don't want to have to pay Microsoft for it, then Linux is a more than capable alternative base for building a system of your own."
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2005-09-19
Member since:2005-07-02
You are confusing EULA (end-user license agreements) with copyright licenses.
The first is a license to *use* the software, which may not be enforceable in *most* countries - in fact, Microsoft and others have gone out of their way *not* to bring any case involving EULAs to court, on fears that EULAs might be declared null and void altogether.
The second concerns *redistribution* of the software. You do not in fact have to read or agree with the GPL to use the software. You must, however, agree with the GPL (and abide by it) if you redistribute the software, or you will be in violation of copyright law.
Considering that the GPL is an *extension* of rights usually granted by copyright law, making it null and void would only restrict you further, and not give you any additional rights.
Member since:
2006-02-15
if you use the package w32codecs on your system, you are violating a liscence agreement, I don't care where you live. It is a redistribution of dlls copied from commercial programs, violating several liscence restrictions. There are other options which are legal however, such as ffmpeg, or vlc.
I am in no way a lawyer or such, but here in Finland there was a case a few years back that the judge stated that any such license agreement where you have to click on Yes/No button are not valid in Finland. He stated clearly that such agreements are valid only if made face-to-face by the client and a representative of the corporation selling the software. So, I might be wrong, but I assume using w32codecs in Finland is legal.