I am sure mplayer does break some patents coz it plays most commercial dvds without libdvdcss and some other ms media types without the win 32 codecs. I don't think its the same for xine though.

Did you know that the client/server model is registered so when you program any client or server, you're actually violing patent...

Patent is a real sh*t for software devellopement

Somebody please tell me how I can break a single law when I stick a
legitimate CD/DVD/VCD that I bought at the store in my computer in
the CD-RW/DVD+/-RW that I bought and installed, and play it with my
Slackware-10.1 Linux OS that I downloaded from Slackware and what
country this is illegal in? And how about some actual facts to back it up
and not just FUD...

Can't read all this thread. Haven't got time. Lindows do version of Xine that has several licenced codecs - including DVD. But it isn't free - simply because these codecs aren't free.

They are not free in Windows either - even if some apps still seem to play without them. They don't. They are just installed elsewhere on your system.

You are unlikely to find any app that is free and that includes these codecs - in windows, linux or anywhere - at least none that would be considered 100% legal. As has been pointed out Xine and Mplayer break no laws - but using certain unlicenced codecs with them might.

GJ