Free software on proprietary formats ?

[Odile Bénassy]

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 11:56:44 +0100
Simo Sorce <simo.sorce at xsec.it> wrote:

> On Sun, 2004-11-21 at 11:36, Jeroen Dekkers wrote:
> > At Sun, 21 Nov 2004 01:54:00 +0100,
> > Odile Bénassy wrote:
> > > What do you think of a so called free software based on Flash ?
> > > If it is free, the sources must be given. What about source files written in a proprietary (flash) format ?
> > 
> > It seems similar to the java trap:
> > http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/java-trap.html
> 
> 
> It seem different to me.
> But can Odile specify better what do you mean by proprietary flash
> format ?
> 
.fla

« 
SWF source files:

    * com: a directory containing the ActionScript 2.0 code package
    * shell.fla: the editable master file for shell.swf
    * preloader.as: a file containing the ActionScript logic included on frame 1 of shell.fla
    * shell.as: a file containing the ActionScript logic included on frame 2 of shell.fla
»

http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/flash/articles/vidgal_structure_03.html

> Is it not publicly available?

it is a binary format, you need Macromedia « Flash MX 2004 » to edit 
http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/flash/articles/media_behaviors.html


> Is it encumbered by patents?
> What exactly make it proprietary?
> 
> Simo.
> -- 
> Simo Sorce - simo.sorce at xsec.it
> Xsec s.r.l. - http://www.xsec.it
> via Garofalo, 39 - 20133 - Milano
> mobile: +39 329 328 7702
> tel. +39 02 2953 4143 - fax: +39 02 700 442 399
> 
> 


-- 
Odile Bénassy, développeuse de logiciels libres
Odile Bénassy, libre software developer
gpg: 6333 33AF 1AA4 5A64 3870  33BC 4247 DC1D BDEB B4AA