Mplayer closed due to patent infridgments

AxeZ · 03-13-2005, 10:40 AM

http://www.mplayerhq.hu/homepage/index.html

The text says

Quote:

Closed for patent infringement

This site has been shut down because of numerous patent violations in MPlayer. The other free software multimedia players are next.

The European commission has just passed its directive on software patents, violating democratic rules and procedures to the sole benefit of big non-European corporation and Ireland and to the detriment of small and medium sized businesses (which comprise 99% of the European software industry) and free software.

The European parliament will now be taking the last stand against software patents in a voting for which an absolute majority is needed. Such a majority is hard to come by in a parliament with a low attendance level.

But not all is lost yet as long as you decide it is time to make a difference and take action. This is our last opportunity to fend off software patents worldwide, there will be no second chance for the foreseeable future. Contact your local EU representatives and educate them why software patents are bad and why they must attend that parliament session to vote against them. For in-depth information and starting points to get active visit software patent page of the FFII (Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure).

Wish us luck, we will need it.

Enter the MPlayer homepage while it is still available.

And you can enter the site.
But this is not good at all.

Come on people, especially from the EU, let's raise our voice.

XavierP · 03-13-2005, 10:58 AM

It's not actually closed. It just says that it could be closed at some point in the future if patents take hold.

The Knoppix site did a similar thing last year. Definitely contact your MEP and get patents kicked out.

hari_seldon99 · 03-13-2005, 04:04 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

My beloved mplayer's tanking?!?!?! How'll I play my quicktime files now?

Why don't you European folks do something about this software patents crap for a change instead of whining about it? A military coup, followed by a putsch would be nice.

reddazz · 03-13-2005, 04:35 PM

As XavierP said, its not actually shutdown, but they are protesting the possible introduction of patents in the European Union.

hari_seldon99 · 03-13-2005, 04:53 PM

Yeah, I know. I was just kidding.

Article 52 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) of 1974 says that
"mathematical methods" and "programs for computers" are not patentable inventions. http://www.european-patent-office.or...pc/e/ar52.html

It also says "The provisions shall exclude patentability of the subject-matter or activities referred to in that provision only to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to such subject-matter or activities as such."

While the (EPC) is an independent agreement between countries and not directly sanctioned by the EU, it does not stop the patenting system to abuse it to suit their purposes. It all went south when European patent organisations began to deliberately misconstrue the phrase "as such" and extend it to the full elasticity of it's ambiguity.

It's all here:
http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/en/m/intro/index.html

Tuttle · 03-14-2005, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hari_seldon99
Why don't you European folks do something about this software patents crap for a change instead of whining about it? A military coup, followed by a putsch would be nice.

ROFL!

bornhj · 03-16-2005, 03:26 AM

Here here! A good coup always fixes the problem.

Being an AUssie, I haven't heard a lot about this patents stuff, but from the little I've heard, it sounds like a heap of [profane words go here] (use your imagination and insert appropriate words).

Quick, everyone download everything on the downloads page and set up numerous download servers! Yay!

hari_seldon99 · 03-16-2005, 03:32 AM

That has already happened. RPM & Deb mirrors are everywhere. But the software is still legal. When they pass laws, everything will have to go underground (IRC, bittorrent etc)

reddazz · 03-16-2005, 05:18 AM

I'll host the packages for you in Africa, don't think they can touch me there.

bruno buys · 03-17-2005, 08:23 AM

I can host in brazil.

mplayer will have defenders everywhere. It will be like the decss case, when everybody downloaded and shared the package.

AxeZ · 03-17-2005, 12:35 PM

Excellent....I hope we won't let them close mplayer.

bornhj · 03-20-2005, 12:15 AM

Any Russians? They seem to be lacking in copyright laws...

They can shut it down all they want, but they'll never kill it off. Shutting down the main site just means they have to find another host or host it theirselves, and I'm sure they're capable of finding someone to host their official development.

marxist1984 · 03-20-2005, 04:54 PM

My comrades and I can host these files on our ftp site, just let me know when there is a need to have hosting for such files. From each according to his ability, to all according to their needs. PM me if it is needed.

RoaCh Of DisCor · 03-22-2005, 11:57 AM

Same with AMSN.

reddazz · 03-22-2005, 05:03 PM

Whats the problem with amsn.