Codecs MP3, AVI, MPEG etc.

9 replies [Last post]

18 March, 2012 - 22:38

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Joined: 18, Mar 2012

I'm a new user to Trisquel and *Free Software* as defined on fsf.org.

As far as I know MP3 and many other popular video and audio formats are considered non-free (at least I thought they were).

Thanks to OggConvert and other similar programs I can easily convert my files to free software. But doesn't the act of doing that enter a grey area?

Could clarify why I can play mp3s at all out of the box in Trisquel.

Thanks in advance.

18 March, 2012 - 23:08

icarolongo

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Joined: 26, Mar 2011

See: FFmpeg: Legal status of codecs (Wikipedia)

Trisquel is from Spain and GStreamer FFmpeg plug-in (Wikipedia) is free software.

18 March, 2012 - 23:29

aloniv

I am a translator!

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Joined: 11, Jan 2011

The decoders are free software but they are patent encumbered (i.e. you need a patent license to playback the file in some parts of the world).

18 March, 2012 - 23:35

linuxbookpro

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Joined: 18, Mar 2012

Thanks aloniv,
I've been converting my files to Ogg Vorbis audio and video formats anyway which removes any need for silly licenses.

18 March, 2012 - 23:32

linuxbookpro

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Joined: 18, Mar 2012

Thanks icarolongo.
that was exactly what I was looking for.
.

19 August, 2012 - 06:36

dvq453

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Joined: 19, Aug 2012

Since I am in the United States, does that mean I can't "legally" use Trisquel, because I haven't paid for a WMV, MPEG2, etc. license? Maybe Trisquel could ship without those codecs, so Americans can use it without being copyright infringing pirates :)

19 August, 2012 - 08:08

Chris