[xine-devel] Re: [xine-user] DeCSS sourcec code legal now? (fwd)

[Andrew M. <an...@an...>]

Jason Collison wrote:
> 
> I think that if xine itself came as source code (meaning no
> rmps/debs) from the official site, then it would have no legal
> complications. Xine could not be held accountable if anyone compiled the
> source code, just as the publishers of DeCSS have been ruled
> unresponsible. DeCSS would also not be responsible if they said that
> others can compile the code. It wouldn't make it LEGAL to do it, they are
> simply saying that they are not restricting others from doing it (in this
> case, however, another party, namely the US government, is the one doing
> the restricting). I hope what I am saying is making sense, but the
> difference is how the word 'allow' is used. The GPL, as I understand it,
> means 'not restricted' when it talks about distribution, modification,
> compilation. It means that the license isn't going to prohibit you from
> doing any of those things.
> 
> hope that makes some sense.
> 
> Jason

However, we should consider the implications for the distros. Xine 0.9.1
is, for example, on Red Hat 7.2's extra binge. As it stands users get a
head start and just have to pull in the extra "controversial" rpms from
a.n.other site. If the css code was added before the legal position for
binary distribution was clarified, RH and others would almost certainly
remove it from their distros. This would leave users in the dark. Yes,
they can download it from somewhere, but only if they know its there.

However, here's a thought.

How about importing the css sources to cvs and adding a configure switch
to enable the inclusion of the css source in the build. The distros
could include binaries with the switch off. Their source rpms could
however include the css stuff. As another step they could have the
--enable-css switch added to the configure line in the .spec file
packaged with the srpm. This would mean that users could do the rebuild
themselves in one step (rpm --rebuild xine-lib-???.src.rpm). This
approach would lower the bar to just about ground level.

What do you think?

Andrew Meredith
_______________________________________________________________
                  The Anvil Organisation Ltd.
                          Director
Tel: +44 (0) 1249 444240 | Email:              an...@an...
Mob: +44 (0) 7802 389007 | Web:           http://www.anvil.org/
_______________________________________________________________
   The box says Win95 or better .. Must run under Linux then!