post-install media formats wizard

[Dane Mutters]

On Wednesday 22 February 2006 09:18 am, Murray Cumming wrote:
> On Wed, 2006-02-22 at 11:41 -0300, Santiago Roza wrote:
> > reaplayer doesn't need to *sell* codecs, i repeat most of them are
> > free/gratis (but not free/libre).
> >
> > but we still can't link those binary codecs to totem, because totem is
> > gpl licensed, and the gpl doesn't allow linking to non-free packages
> > (unless the authors make an exception).
>
> http://cvs.gnome.org/viewcvs/totem/COPYING?rev=1.1&view=log
>
> "
> The Totem project hereby grant permission for non-gpl compatible GStreamer
> plugins to be used and distributed together with GStreamer and Totem. This
> permission are above and beyond the permissions granted by the GPL license
> Totem is covered by.
> "

	That seems pretty clear to me.  I think that this would go a LONG way to 
"un-breaking" Totem in the minds of the average, "just make my stuff play!" 
user.

	Are there any lawyers on this list?  Does anybody know of one who would like 
to be?

	I think that we're kind-of "kicking a dead horse" until we get somebody in 
here who has some professional knowledge of copyright and patent law.  
Personally, I strongly agree that we need to have at least an option to 
install some non-free codecs on Ubuntu without having to go through 
Synaptic/apt-get and universe/multiverse to get them.  It's just too 
complicated for the average user.  It's too complicated for many Linux/power 
users.  Unfortunately, until we get a lawyer in here to validate/throw out 
some of our ideas, we really shouldn't be arguing over what text to include 
(although ideas are always welcome, IMHO).

	--Dane