[SATLUG] Dell Hope

[Eli]

Thomas Cameron wrote:
> Daniel J. Givens wrote:
>> Eli wrote:
>>> Strange, my experience is the opposite. Ubuntu is worthless for
>>> proprietary formats...just like most distros.
>>>
>>> Until Automatix is run, that is...
>>
>> With the latest release of Ubuntu, Feisty Fawn, anytime you try to open
>> a file that requires a codec you don't have, you are asked if you want
>> the system to retrieve it for you. Of course, you are warned that if you
>> get a codec that is covered by a patent in your country, you are
>> breaking the law, etc etc. Ubuntu, though, is covered in that aspect.
>>
>> Also, any copyrighted material used in Ubuntu is used by the permission
>> of the copyright holder. Copyright doesn't necessarily mean that the
>> material can't be shared or modified. Almost all F/OSS is copyrighted,
>> but licensed for open distribution and modification. It is copyrights
>> that ensure the GPL and other licenses keep code written by the
>> community out of proprietary software when the original authors don't
>> want it ending up there.
>>
>>
>> I really don't see where Microsoft or Novell or anyone else would have
>> any more ground to stand on to go after Ubuntu than they would going
>> after Red Hat.
>
> If you come to me and say "hey, I want to do something steal a car" 
> and I give you the tools and drive you to a car I know is easy to 
> steal, have I don't anything illegal?  I didn't actually steal the 
> car, so am I OK legally?
>
> In many jurisdictions (Texas being one of them) I am not.  I am just 
> as guilty of that car theft as the primary actor.
>
> I don't know if the patent holders for those codecs would actually win 
> a contributory violation suit against a distro which does this.  But 
> it would certainly lead to a loooooooong drawn out court case which 
> would give MSFT and other anti-F/OSS folks a lot to FUD about.
>
> Thomas
that's exactly right.    i think all the clear cut violations are done 
via automatix, which even tells you when you run it "you're breaking the 
law". 

automatix seems to be fairly well distanced from ubuntu as far as 
organizational ties, so  I think ubuntu is probably pretty safe from a 
full assault, on that front...

e