MP3 + GPL = illegal (was: Red Hat's Bluecurve)

[Paul Iadonisi]

On Sat, 2002-10-05 at 23:21, bscott at ntisys.com wrote:
> On 5 Oct 2002, at 10:35pm, pri.nhlug at iadonisi.to wrote:
> > I also wasn't pleased with the lack of mp3 support.
> 
>   It is worth emphasizing that, which the changes in policy regarding MP3
> patent licensing, distribution of any GPL'ed program that supports MP3 is
> *illegal*.  Section 7 of the GPL.  Red Hat does not have much choice in the
> matter.  Any distribution that does otherwise is, quite simply, breaking the
> law, and violating the GPL.

  I absolutely, 100% agree.  I was just expressing my dissatisfaction
with the whole state of affairs.  Patents suck.  Red Hat did the right
thing.  Perhaps, the change in policy (to Thomson: no change?  Yeah,
right!  And chickens have lips.) and Red Hat's decision will propel the
popularity of Ogg Vorbis even further.

-- 
-Paul Iadonisi
 Senior System Administrator
 Red Hat Certified Engineer / Local Linux Lobbyist
 Ever see a penguin fly?  --  Try Linux.
 GPL all the way: Sell services, don't lease secrets