MythTV / licensing / GPL / Patents

[Brian Gough]

Pete Dijkman <pete_dijkman at yahoo.com> writes:

> MythTV http://mythtv.org is an example of a great free software
> project.  Non-royalty free patents and the GPL just seem
> uncompatible to me or am I missing something??

You're right, they are incompatible, but until the patent holder
brings a case the vendor is not necessarily violating the GPL in
itself.

Releasing any product carries a risk of patent infringement (we're all
probably infringing on some patent somewhere) so there is a judgement
call involved.

However, I wouldn't recommend using the MP3 codec in a commercial
product using free sofware --- since there are good free alternatives
available, such as Ogg Vorbis, it would be better to use those.

-- 
Brian Gough

Network Theory Ltd,
Publishing Free Software Manuals --- http://www.network-theory.co.uk/