VideoLAN is seriously threatened by software patents due to the
numerous patented techniques it implements and uses. Also threatened
are the many libraries and projects which
VLC is built upon, like
FFmpeg, and the other fellow Free And Open Source software
multimedia players, which include
MPlayer,
xine,
Freevo,
MythTV,
gstreamer.
Multimedia is a patent minefield. All important techniques and formats
are covered by broad and trivial patents that are harming progress and
alternative implementations, such as free software multimedia players.
The European commission has just passed its directive on software
patents, violating democratic rules and procedures to the sole
benefit of big non-European corporation and Ireland and to the
detriment of small and medium sized businesses (which comprise 99%
of the European software industry) and free software.
The European parliament will now be taking the last stand against
software patents in a voting for which an absolute majority is
needed. Such a majority is hard to come by in a parliament with a
low attendance level.
But not all is lost yet as long as you decide it is
time to make a difference and take action. This is our last opportunity
to fend off software patents worldwide, there will be no second chance
for the foreseeable future.
