Re: Re: Linux video editing patents

Hi Bob,

> The good news is that 99.5% of the work involved with production and 
> post-production does not require patented compression algorithms.

Right - If it wasn't for the split between raw production and compressed 
distribution formats, a Linux distribution like 64 Studio would be unviable.

Unfortunately formats like MP3 are a de-facto standard for music on the 
web, so people like to have out of the box support in a distribution. We 
don't want to have to tell people 'after installation, Google for the 
location of this bit of source code and build your own binary' - it's 
just not practical for a lot of users.

> Take note that GPL only covers *binary* distributions of software. GPL 
> software in source form may always be copied, compiled, and used for any 
> purpose.  There are no restrictions on compiled software until the 
> binaries are distributed.

Sure, but the patent lawyers don't care about the GPL, they just want 
the money. So we're doing our best to try to please everybody :-)

 > So if the compilation is done as part of the
 > install process then GPL restrictions are not involved.

Also true, but we want the distribution to install in 20 minutes with 
few questions asked, rather than 20 hours, hence we based it on Debian 
packages pre-built for x86_64 processors rather than Gentoo source packages.

Cheers!

Daniel


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