[TriLUG] RH8 and Evolution Problem

Matt Wilson msw at redhat.com
Sun Oct 6 17:25:55 EDT 2002


On Sun, Oct 06, 2002 at 05:14:31PM -0400, Greg Brown wrote:
> Even itty bitty Be OS payed out the $500,000.00 for mp3 licensing.  If 
> Be OS can do it, Red Hat should have been able to as well.  I can 
> understand Red Hat's position on the matter (to a degree) but I'm 
> really left scratching my head over the end decision.

You've been reading Eugenia Loli-Queru's articles too much.

You see, this is $500,000.00 for a proprietary piece of software.  It
does not include redistribution beyond the first degree (I give a copy
to Bob, then he gives it to Joe).  The patent license is not
redistributable.  Therefore, as I can not guarantee that the patent
license covers anyone that I give the software to, and everyone that
they may give it to as well, it must not be distributed.  This is due
to paragraph 7 of the GPL.

We are not the copyright holders of the packages which decode mp3s and
are placed under the GPL.  There are no exceptions (at this time)
given by the authors of the software.  We must abide by the terms that
they have licensed the code under, which includes refraining entirely
from distribution of the Program if we can not secure a patent license
for all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through us.

A patent license to satisfy the GPL would essentially kill all revenue
for Thompson, therefore the price tag of that license would be
financially impossible.

Cheers,

Matt



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