On Mon, 2003-05-26 at 13:58, Gordon Messmer wrote: > Colburn wrote: > > Could RedHat utilize an auto-conversion utility to make mpeg files > > something open source friendly before they are ever opened? > > A conversion utility would also implement the patented software > routines, and could not be distributed. The patents don't cover players > only, but any software that reads/writes those formats. A player must first read in order to play -- a conversion app would do no more than a player -- Read then Convert. I'd sure like to be the lawyer vs the MPEG thugs tying them up in knots trying to convince a judge of the difference "on the ground"! No more MPEG code is used to convert than to play. They lose. ;-) doc
