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Some distros are released with all the multimedia codecs and other proprietary stuff. How can they do that? The question is not about morality, but about legality. Some others without ...
  1. 04-12-2007 #1
    g.ivannov
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    Distros and Legality

    Some distros are released with all the multimedia codecs and other proprietary stuff. How can they do that? The question is not about morality, but about legality.
    Some others without this stuff but they tell you where to find it. Isnt that illegal as well? (incitement to crime) Where are the limits of legality?
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  2. 04-12-2007 #2
    tech_man
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    Quote Originally Posted by g.ivannov
    Some distros are released with all the multimedia codecs and other proprietary stuff. How can they do that? The question is not about morality, but about legality.
    Some others without this stuff but they tell you where to find it. Isnt that illegal as well? (incitement to crime) Where are the limits of legality?
    It is an issue if the copy right owners feel it is an issue. IFAIK copy right infringement is usually civil and rarely criminal, so the option of action lies with the owner of the copy rights, not the municipality. It is not a matter of legality in civil cases, but tort.
    'Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.'
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  3. 04-12-2007 #3
    Dark_Stang
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    Another thing to look at is where the distro is coming from. If it's based in a country that doesn't recognize copyrights on things like that, then nobody here can do anything about it.
    Two levels higher than a newb.
    (I can search google)
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  4. 04-12-2007 #4
    g.ivannov
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    Quote Originally Posted by tech_man
    It is an issue if the copy right owners feel it is an issue. IFAIK copy right infringement is usually civil and rarely criminal, so the option of action lies with the owner of the copy rights, not the municipality. It is not a matter of legality in civil cases, but tort.
    Then I suppose that the developers of great distros (at least) make arrangements with the copy right owners.


    Quote Originally Posted by Dark_Stang
    Another thing to look at is where the distro is coming from. If it's based in a country that doesn't recognize copyrights on things like that, then nobody here can do anything about it.
    If the distro is based in France (cool laws) and an enthousiast in the USA (strict laws) allows downloads of the distro from his/her server what happens?

    I am preparing a distro and have this concerns...
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  5. 04-12-2007 #5
    tech_man
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    Quote Originally Posted by g.ivannov
    Then I suppose that the developers of great distros (at least) make arrangements with the copy right owners.
    Not necessarily.


    Quote Originally Posted by g.ivannov
    If the distro is based in France (cool laws) and an enthousiast in the USA (strict laws) allows downloads of the distro from his/her server what happens?

    I am preparing a distro and have this concerns...
    I doubt anything will happen, but that doesn't mean it won't. If there are problems expect a legal notice telling you to remove the offending software and remove further copy right infringements from further releases.
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  6. 04-13-2007 #6
    g.ivannov
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    This problem seems a little complex. For example the restricted repository of ubuntu is a non-free supported (by the official team) repository. Logically a great distro as ubuntu distributes this software legally. But that doesnt mean that the owners of the copyright would allow ubuntu-based distros to do the same. Am I right?

    Well, the sure way (without any legal problem) seems to be a gnewsense-based distro. Gnewsense is supported by the Free Software Foundation.
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  7. 04-13-2007 #7
    tech_man
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    Ubuntu splits their software into different repositories because of philosophical issues rather than legal IIRC.
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  8. 04-13-2007 #8
    g.ivannov
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    Thanks for the help. I hope to solve this problem which is a real headache.
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  9. 04-13-2007 #9
    Dark_Stang
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    Quote Originally Posted by g.ivannov
    If the distro is based in France (cool laws) and an enthousiast in the USA (strict laws) allows downloads of the distro from his/her server what happens?
    Then the person/group that created the distro in France is fine. And the person in the USA should be fine, even though it is breaking copyright law. I really don't see somebody getting in trouble over downloading a few proprietary codecs. They normally go after the big guys that distribute them.
    Two levels higher than a newb.
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  10. 04-13-2007 #10
    Vergil83
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    Quote Originally Posted by tech_man
    Ubuntu splits their software into different repositories because of philosophical issues rather than legal IIRC.
    That is different than the codecs. The codecs are not hosted on offical Ubuntu servers.
    Brilliant Mediocrity - Making Failure Look Good
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