On Fri, Aug 30, 2002 at 04:55:46PM +0200, Robert Millan wrote: > On Fri, Aug 30, 2002 at 10:31:23AM -0400, Joe Drew wrote: > > On Fri, 2002-08-30 at 10:16, Robert Millan wrote: > > > currently non-US is the only place where it can be without breaking law. > > > > This is incorrect: mp3 patents exist in non-US places too, like Germany. > > we definitely need an mp3 decoder in debian if we want to fight the > patent oppression at all. i think we need another branch for that kind > of problems.
lol, I doubt it would help. Just go to US patent office website and do a search on stuff like on title try "The Wheel". :) I know, it's getting ridicules. What need to be done is for someone to sue the patent office for stifling innovation and promoting monopolies. ie. something it was originally created to fight. > > > having mp3 players in non-free would still be illegal. mpg321 is free > > > software that complies to DFSG and there's no reason to put it in > > > non-free or non-free/non-US. > > > > If fraunhofer say that you are allowed to distribute mp3 players for > > free (but not for cost), then they must be put in non-free. And since > > they have patents all around the world, they can't be put in non-us. > > yes, but only non-free in states that impose patent restrictions. if we > have such "non-patented" branch it would be free for users outside the circle. I'm not sure, but an app A that incorporates algorithm BOB and BOB is "patented" under a non-GPL license, then I don't think that A can be distributed as a GPL program.
