[quake3] Mp3 support patch

[Paul Gnuyen]

That's probably iffy legal under the GPL, linking to a non-free library
like that would probably require a specific exemption from the copyright
holder.  That is a non-free library that isn't "normally distributed"
with the major components of the operating system etc.  If this patch
linked to gstreamer on linux, quicktime on mac, and whatever abstraction
windows has, you're probably in the legal clear.  Fluendo has a licensed
binary mp3 codec on linux which is free for distribution and use, so it
would be legal everywhere as well.  Also, a programming headache for a
feature with dubious usefulness.  Transcoding to vorbis is probably the
sane thing to do on those few cases where only mp3 sources are
(legally?) available.

On Wed, 2006-10-04 at 18:10 +0200, Thilo Schulz wrote:
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> On Wednesday 04 October 2006 17:53, Joerg Dietrich wrote:
> > No protest but some concerns here. MP3 is a heavily patented technology
> > and the patents are heavily defended. So this patch is very risky.
> > But as long as we do not include any of the decoding routines in the
> > source (not even to make compiling on Windows and Mac easier ;)
> > we should be safe.
> 
> The patch only makes use of libmad, doesn't actually include it.
> 
> And even if libmad is statically linked:
> 
> - From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3:
> ###
> Additionally, patent holders declined to enforce license fees on open source 
> decoders, allowing many free MP3 decoders to develop. Furthermore, while 
> attempts have been made to discourage distribution of encoder binaries, 
> Thomson has stated that individuals using free MP3 encoders are not required 
> to pay fees. Thus while patent fees have been an issue for companies 
> attempting to use MP3, they have not meaningfully impacted users, allowing 
> the format to grow in popularity.
> ###
> 
> So really, the risk seems to be only a theoretical one. xmms, mplayer, and 
> alot of other well known and well-liked open source projects don't seem to 
> have an issue with that.
> 
> - -- 
> Thilo Schulz
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