Windows Media for Embedded Linux Systems

ntmonkey writes "According to this article, Microsoft has authorized InterVideo to port Windows Media Player to Linux. However, WMP will not be available to normal folks...Microsoft will only allow it to be distributed via set top boxes and the like."

Re:Third repost of this topic?

[blakestah]

No, the previous posts were Microsoft allowing the WMV9 encoders to be licensed for other operating systems. Previously, media tools from Microsoft could only be used on Windows (like Pinnacle Studio). With the WMV9 codec, licenses for tools can be purchased on any operating system, and much cheaper than MPEG4 licenses.

This new release is about their media PLAYER, for which licensing is a separate issue.

For cripe's sake.. a dup.

[cowmix]

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/07/225206 &

Re:Question

[Tim C]

Not if the libraries in question are licenced under the LGPL. The LGPL specifically allows linking with non-GPLed code; that's the reason it exists distinct from the GPL.

Re:Will Mictosoft have to distribute source?NO

[ehudokai]

Yes you are missing a great deal. The GPL only restricts the code that is covered by the GPL. So if Microsoft chose to take the linux kernel and rerelease it, then they would have to release the source, otherwise they don't have to release anything under the GPL simply because they are using Linux as their kernel. Take, for example, Oracle, win4lin, Opera, and a host of other BSD licensed material that runs on linux.

Par for the course...

[Delta-9]

Lately I have found that the majority of /. stories are delayed mirrors of Google News Sci/Tech section. I generally check Google News for the stories, then come here about 2 hours later to see the dialog about the story. I knew this story would be making its way here sooner or later.

Re:Will Microsoft have to distribute source?

[John_Sauter]

Even assuming they don't change the kernel, if they are distributing it within the box they need to agree to the GPL, which requires that they distribute the source of the kernel, at least. I argue that even though they add only applications and libraries, since they are distributing a complete, integrated package that includes the Linux kernel, the package as a whole is derived from the Linux kernel and thus must include source. It would be different if they were distributing only their applications and libraries, with the end-user responsible for acquiring and installing the Linux kernel.
John Sauter ([e-mail])

Re:Will Microsoft have to distribute source?

[Anonymous Coward]

It Doesn't Work That Way<super>TM</super>

The only thing that gets two programs considered as the same work is being linked (statically or dynamically). That is, unless they are distributing WMP as a loadable kernel module, they don't have to ever worry about source. And even then, there's an exception in the Linux kernel license to allow loadable binary modules (even if there wasn't, they could use the Nvidia style of redirection -- load an open module that loads a closed module).

The GPL covers specific works. It does not cover a bunch of works as a whole.

Re:Not for Linux desktops

[GoRK]

When you see Windows Media Player downloadable for x86 Linux with the X Window System -- then it's news

Interesting that it wasn't much of a news item back in 1997 when they did exactly this with Windows Media Player 1.0...

Re:Not for Linux desktops

[bmetzler]

The embedded version is simply a normal version of linux (yes, we do mean redhat, debian, even mandrake ...)

That's not technically true. You can't really take a copy of Redhat, only choose the packages you need, and install it on an embedded device. Even if the device is based on x86 architecture.

But, even if that was the case, you still wouldn't be able to install Windows Media Player for Linux on your RedHat desktop. That's because you wouldn't be able to get a copy of WMP for Linux. Microsoft will license it to OEMs directly. It certainly won't be a download on their website.

-Brent

Re:Par for the course...

[Numeric]

You read the orginal story on Google News, then you see the story is posted on Slashdot w/ adiscussion. A few minutes later on Google News, you see the same story with a link to Slashdot...its like meta news reporting.

I wonder....

[timerider]

...if someone finally notices that the very same thing came through here three days ago?

Here's a little cut&paste from slashdots search function, search term was "intervideo" with no restrictions:

Windows Media for Embedded Linux Systems
On April 11th, 2003 with 198 comments
ntmonkey writes "According to this article, Microsoft has authorized InterVideo to port Windows Media Player to Linux. However, WMP will not be available to...
Section: Main > Microsoft
Score: 0.5

Windows Media Format Could Hit Linux-Based Devices
On April 8th, 2003 with 260 comments
An anonymous reader writes "LinuxDevices.com reports that Microsoft has licensed InterVideo Inc. to supply Windows Media Technology to makers of Linux-based...
Section: Main > Media
Score: 0.5

Also I wonder how many more duplicates we'll see on /. before they try to do something about it?

bye,
[L]