Hi, I'd like to package some software (simage, from http://www.coin3d.org/download/source-code/) which contains the source code for mpeg2enc. Simage per se is in the public domain, but mpeg2enc is rather more encumbered (see below).
As I read it, the patent claims disallow this from Debian. Is that true? Can it go into "non-free"? If this is not allowable, is it enough to build it without the mpeg2enc code enabled or do I need to sanitize the *source* package too? Thanks, -Steve ----------------- mpeg2enc copyright ------------------------ /* Copyright (C) 1996, MPEG Software Simulation Group. All Rights Reserved. */ /* * Disclaimer of Warranty * * These software programs are available to the user without any license fee or * royalty on an "as is" basis. The MPEG Software Simulation Group disclaims * any and all warranties, whether express, implied, or statuary, including any * implied warranties or merchantability or of fitness for a particular * purpose. In no event shall the copyright-holder be liable for any * incidental, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever * arising from the use of these programs. * * This disclaimer of warranty extends to the user of these programs and user's * customers, employees, agents, transferees, successors, and assigns. * * The MPEG Software Simulation Group does not represent or warrant that the * programs furnished hereunder are free of infringement of any third-party * patents. * * Commercial implementations of MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video, including shareware, * are subject to royalty fees to patent holders. Many of these patents are * general enough such that they are unavoidable regardless of implementation * design. * * Please visit MPEGLA at http://www.mpegla.com/ for more information about * licensing. * */
