Multiverse and video codecs

[Wade Berrier]

Hi all,

First of all, I've been using Ubuntu since it came out.  Job well done!!

I was thinking of filing a bug for this but thought I'd try here first.

I noticed that the xvid packages are in the multiverse repository.  I
assume this is because of the patent issues involved.

But yet, ffmpeg is in universe?  If xvid is in multiverse, shouldn't
ffmpeg be there as well because of it's mpeg4 codec (libavcodec)?

I noticed this to begin with because the ffmpeg in breezy is built
without xvid support.

The only advantage I can think of why ffmpeg is in universe is because
some other packages outside of multiverse may depend on it.

I saw some earlier posts to the list of how ffmpeg was also built
without mp3 support.

Anyway, if ffmpeg was in multiverse it could be built with xvid and mp3
support, no?

And if it remains in universe, isn't ffmpeg as much of an mpeg4 codec as
xvid?  Couldn't xvid be in universe as well?  (Although I think moving
ffmpeg to multiverse is the better option).

Thoughts?  Am I understanding the different repositories and the ffmpeg
mpeg4 patent issue correctly?

Wade
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