LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Downloading from Medibuntu

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Downloading from Medibuntu

I've just downloaded vlc player on my laptop. The problem is that it won't play DVD's. I've got the same vlc on my PC and it works fine, but on the laptop it doesn't play DVD's though it plays VCD's no problem. I've found out that this issue can be solved by downloading libdvdcss from Medibuntu.

The qustion I've got: Where can I find out if files I download from Medibuntu can be legally downloaded and used in my country (Poland)?
I can't find this info on Medibuntu site so I thought I'll ask here.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, thank you.

what is your distribution? which version?

I've got Ubuntu 11.10 reduced to pure LXDE.

This is from the Ubuntu web site
https://help.ubuntu.com/11.10/ubuntu...estricted.html

Quote:

How do I enable restricted codecs to play DVDs?
DVD support cannot be provided by default in Ubuntu due to legal and technical restrictions. Most commercial DVDs are encrypted and so require the use of decryption software in order to play them.

Use Fluendo to legally play DVDs
You can buy a commercial DVD decoder that can handle copy protection from Fluendo. It works with Linux and should be legal to use in all countries.

Use alternative decryption software
In some countries, the use of the below unlicensed decryption software is not permitted by law. Verify that you are within your rights to use it.

1.Install libdvdnav4, libdvdread4, gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad, and gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly.

2.If you would like to play encrypted DVDs (see the legal note above), open the Dash and launch a Terminal.

3.Type the following into the screen which appears, then press Enter:

Code:

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

4.Enter your password to complete the installation.

Good luck to you.

Thanks, TroN-0074

So, this is exactly what I want to find out: 'In some countries, the use of the below unlicensed decryption software is not permitted by law. Verify that you are within your rights to use it.'
Where do I find out? Is there a list of countries in which that kind of software can be legally used? Or should I speak to a lawyer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pingu4 (Post 4684284)

The qustion I've got: Where can I find out if files I download from Medibuntu can be legally downloaded and used in my country (Poland)?

You wont find that on any site that deals with general information. There are about 230 countries and each one has different laws so for the repository provider to gather that information and then list it for every country on the planet would be time consuming. The best thing you could do is ask a local LUG r someone with Polish legal knowledge.

Ok, I'll have to find someone in Poland who has that kind of legal knowledge.
Thanks k3lt01.

I think you should google around regarding polish copyright law. I did google yesterday out of interest and it seems that Poland does sign up to the European copyright treaties so my guess it it's technically illegal to produce and distribute such software in Poland (because as far as I can tell it is in the EU copyright treaty countries).
That said, I've never heard of anyone being prosecuted for downloading DeCSS or any other troublesome software, so I suspect that just owning a copy and using it is not illegal enough for a prosecution to be worth while.
It seems to be as legal as copying a friend's CD to your hard drive to listen to.
You should note that downloading it as part of VLC for Windows is as illegal as downloading it from anywhere else unless it either uses DVD decryption libraries already present on your Windows install or there is documentation to prove that they paid to include DVD decryption in their software.

Wow, thanks a lot 273. I'll try to find out about the legality of this in Poland. I can't play my DVD's on my own PC or laptop and it's making me angrrrry :)

Good work there 273.

I'll just add that it seems the EU is slowly moving to block sites that break copyright laws (at the moment it looks like this is limited to sites like the PirateBay), you may find that in the future after they have shut down illigal torrent sites they may go after sites that offer licensed (copyrighted) packages.

Thanks again 273.

And k3lt01, of course eventually EU will start closing sites with copyrighted packages - the ever-spreading paranoia and a desire for a uniform, fully controlled European state won't let them stop :(