license issues

Forum: myDSL Extensions (deprecated)
Topic: license issues
started by: mikshaw

Posted by mikshaw on Aug. 27 2004,14:11

I was working on a package for cdparanoia + dekagen, and it seems to work with the oggenc in DSL. However, I had considered also including mp3lame.so for creating mp3. The problem is that I seem to remember something about license issues with including this in a distribution. I couldn't find what i was looking for with a search here, but i'm certain that somebody said it couldn't be redistributed.
Can anyone verify this?
Lame is LGPL....is mp3lame not part of lame, or is it an issue with the mp3 format itself?

Posted by cbagger01 on Aug. 27 2004,18:13

As far as I know, lame encoder (from the lame project) is freely distributable even if it isn't full GPL, but someone should double-check this statement.

There has been some concern that the folks who patented the original mp3 encoder would sue the lame project for infringement and essentially kill the project.

However, these concerns never were realized so I wouldn't worry about it.

While it makes sense to do your diligence and check the license terms before submitting a dsl extension, you cannot live your life in fear that someday someone will ambush you for something stupid like "KDE and ICEWM has a "Start" menu like function therefore they could be sued by microsoft". If things get this bad, we might as well throw out our computers and return to the abacus.

Posted by mikshaw on Aug. 27 2004,18:34

Fear? Pfft! I fear nothi... eww it's a bug! Get it off!

Posted by mikshaw on Aug. 27 2004,23:41

So...no one thinks there's a problem with putting Lame into an extension?

good.

Alright, so I put the necessary files together, and created some shell wrappers so you could use cdparanoia and lame as console tools if desired...tested it out and it seems to work fine...tarred it up and rebooted to test it on a fresh system....

oops...I forgot it was a liveCD

...so after i stop grumbling I'll rebuild the package and send it.