Re: [gNewSense-users] Closure of bug?

[Lee McCafferty]

On Thu, 2007-07-19 at 22:51 -0400, Matthew Flaschen wrote:
> Karl Goetz wrote:
> 
> >> Fluendo
> >> gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3
> >> gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mpegdemux
> >> More MP3 players
> >> mpg321
> > 
> > all the mp3 players (i assume) are only non free in the patent sense -
> > we dont have a stance on patents at the moment.
> 
> Okay, if we're not concerned about patent issues, then I guess these can 
> be removed.

My personal opinion is that they should be removed (from the bug list), I live 
in europe so patents don't currently apply here.
I do however spend some time in America and to be honest I have no problem in 
'breaking the law' when I am because I don't consider software patents to be
legitimate. This is of course a personal position and I can respect those who 
hold a different standpoint. That said I think it unfair to deny those that 
can use them 'legally' because one country has unreasonable laws. I do believe 
that
a famous American once  said something along the lines of it being ones duty 
to  defy a law that you consider illegitimate (I could be terribly mistaken on 
that,
but that is certainly my personal opinion).

However, this is a community and if most people wish to remove these packages
I am fine with that (there are other routes to get software than the package
manager just none quite as convenient). It would be good to find out other
opinions on this issue so that we can come to a consensus and close the bug.

A final note, I have exclusively used ogg for the last year or so, but I
have a fairly large catalogue of mp3 files from before this date which I
have tried converting, but found a noticeable loss of quality in doing
so. I am in the process of acquiring originals to create oggs from, but
funds are limited. I also receive a lot of music from musician friends
on mp3 (yes, I consistently nag them to change their 'wicked' ways but
it is easier said than done) so for the foreseeable future I will be
using these particular programs.

Lee
-- 
Lee McCafferty <address@hidden>