On Sun, 2005-10-16 at 13:24 -0700, kai wrote:
On Sunday 16 October 2005 12:27, James Knott wrote:
Ken Schneider wrote:
Think of it this way, does MS include encrypted DVD playback software with their install CD, of course not but you expect SUSE or any other linux distribution to, why? Contact a company that sells DVD playback software and nag them to provide a linux version.
Actually, who actually owns the licence for such software? Is it actually the distributors of such software? Or is it the movie studios etc? If the owner is Linux hostile (perhaps encouraged by MS) they may not want to permit Linux versions, paid or otherwise.
Actually I just did a bit of research on the mpaa site (the ones who hold the key to CSS encryption.)
From their Q&A page:
Q: Some computer users say they only want to use DeCSS to view their DVDs on computers that use the Linux operating system. Windows- and Macintosh-based computers can play DVDs, so is it fair to deprive the Linux community?
A: The Linux argument is a false issue. It has always been in the interest of the Motion Picture industry that there be as many legitimately licensed DVD players as possible, including those using non-Windows operating systems. However the argument that DeCSS was written for Linux players is simply false. The De-CSS utility was written for Windows-based software, not Linux.
Also, the development of two, separate, licensed DVD players for Linux systems - which use the CSS system - were recently announced. Sigma Designs (www.sigmadesigns.com) and InterVideo Inc. (www.intervideo.com) both announced the roll-out of LICENSED, LEGAL Linux-based DVD players.
sigmadesigns provides hardware chips and intervideo does -not- provide a linux version of their software. -- Ken Schneider UNIX since 1989, linux since 1994, SuSE since 1998