Anyone seen the mplayer site?

scuffell · 03-11-2005, 12:25 PM

Hi,

Sorry if this has been posted about before, but I couldn't find it.

Just going to the mplayer website and noticed the front page. Looks like mplayer is being taken to court over software patents.

Mplayer is such a great program, and I think many people here will agree with me. It would be a great shame to lose it.

reddazz · 03-11-2005, 12:36 PM

It doesn't look to me like they are being taken to court as such, but they are complaining about recent efforts to introduce software patents in Europe.

acid_kewpie · 03-11-2005, 01:25 PM

it's just a statement of what is possible now. they aren't actually in danger at all.

scuffell · 03-12-2005, 03:12 AM

Yep, sorry read that wrong twice.

But, the software patents are starting to take their toll, and if they enforced, we may see developers abandon programs. I remember there was a similar massage on the knoppix website sometime last year, and it said that some of the patents were on things like scrollbars.

reddazz · 03-12-2005, 03:34 AM

At the moment they have not been implemented but it looks like they will be, but there are still some hurdles along the way. Software patents are very damaging, so personally i hope they aren't implemented in Europe coz they only benefit a select few.