gtkpod and dynamic libmp4v2

[Loïc Martin]

Reinhard Tartler wrote:
> xvid is AFAIUI clearly non-free material. :-(
I've recently checked all xvid source files to update debian/copyright, 
and everything is under GPL2+ except for 2 files 
(src/dct/{fdct.c,idct.c}) which license I paste below.

What makes xvid non-free material (I thought patents threat 
possibilities didn't enter in the decision, since everything can be 
subject to a patent, even vorbis codecs)?

Loïc

Here is the full text of the two files in question
> Files: src/dct/{fdct.c,idct.c}
 > Copyright: Copyright 1991-1998, Thomas G. Lane
 > License: GPL-2+ | other
 > License: other
 > The authors make NO WARRANTY or representation, either express or 
implied,
 > with respect to this software, its quality, accuracy, merchantability,
 > or fitness for a particular purpose. This software is provided "AS
 > IS", and you, its user, assume the entire risk as to its quality and
 > accuracy.
> 
> This software is copyright (C) 1991-1998, Thomas G. Lane. All Rights
> Reserved except as specified below.
> 
> Permission is hereby granted to use, copy, modify, and distribute
> this software (or portions thereof) for any purpose, without fee,
> subject to these conditions: (1) If any part of the source code for
> this software is distributed, then this README file must be included,
> with this copyright and no-warranty notice unaltered; and any
 > additions, deletions, or changes to the original files must be clearly
 > indicated in accompanying documentation.
> (2) If only executable code is distributed, then the accompanying 
> documentation must state that "this software is based in part on the
 > work of the Independent JPEG Group".
> (3) Permission for use of this software is granted only if the user
 > accepts full responsibility for any undesirable consequences; the
 > authors accept NO LIABILITY for damages of any kind.
> 
> These conditions apply to any software derived from or based on the
> IJG code, not just to the unmodified library. If you use our work,
> you ought to acknowledge us.
> 
> Permission is NOT granted for the use of any IJG author's name or 
> company name in advertising or publicity relating to this software or
> products derived from it. This software may be referred to only as
 > "the Independent JPEG Group's software".
> 
> We specifically permit and encourage the use of this software as the 
> basis of commercial products, provided that all warranty or liability
> claims are assumed by the product vendor.
> 
> ansi2knr.c is included in this distribution by permission of L. Peter
>  Deutsch, sole proprietor of its copyright holder, Aladdin
> Enterprises of Menlo Park, CA.
> ansi2knr.c is NOT covered by the above copyright and conditions, but
 > instead by the usual distribution terms of the Free Software
 > Foundation; principally, that you must include source code if > you 
redistribute it.
 > (See the file ansi2knr.c for full details.) However, since ansi2knr.c 
 > is not needed as part of any program generated from the IJG code, 
this > does not limit you more than the foregoing paragraphs do.
> 
> The Unix configuration script "configure" was produced with GNU Autoconf.
 > It is copyright by the Free Software Foundation but is freely
 > distributable. The same holds for its supporting scripts config.guess,
 > config.sub, ltconfig, ltmain.sh). Another support script, install-sh,
 > is copyright by M.I.T. but is also freely distributable.
> 
> It appears that the arithmetic coding option of the JPEG spec is
 > covered by patents owned by IBM, AT&T, and Mitsubishi. Hence
 > arithmetic coding cannot legally be used without obtaining one or more
 > licenses.
 > For this reason, support for arithmetic coding has been removed from
 > the free JPEG software. (Since arithmetic coding provides only a
 > marginal gain over the unpatented Huffman mode, it is unlikely that
 > very many implementations will support it.)
> So far as we are aware, there are no patent restrictions on the
 > remaining code.
> 
> The IJG distribution formerly included code to read and write GIF
> files. To avoid entanglement with the Unisys LZW patent, GIF reading
> support has been removed altogether, and the GIF writer has been
 > simplified to produce "uncompressed GIFs". This technique does not use
 > the LZW algorithm; the resulting GIF files are larger than usual, but
 > are readable by all standard GIF decoders.
> 
> We are required to state that "The Graphics Interchange Format(c) is
> the Copyright property of CompuServe Incorporated. GIF(sm) is a
> Service Mark property of CompuServe Incorporated."