At 23:33 5/21/2004, Sean Estabrooks wrote:
Sorry Robin, you've completely missed the point. There is a
reason
that these things are not provided by a FC2 install. It's because they
are not free. Trying to make a MS Windows clone is doomed to failure.
We can not afford to allow _them_ to set the agenda. What is important
is making our own community that supports truly free protocols
and data formats that we can enjoy.
Sean makes a very strong point here. Linux users, developers, and distros
are generally far more respectful of legality and honor than your Average
Joe. If the MP3 format is patented, and Fraunhoffer (sp?) wants a royalty,
then it is offensive to the Linux culture to go around that legal right.
Some people in this community may argue that Fraunhoffer should not have
that right in the first place, but they still respect it because it is
legal and binding today.
Rather than promote stealing and disregarding contractual and legal
obligations, Linux is about finding a better way... not imitating, copying,
or begging, but innovating and creating. So far, it's worked very well!
--
Rodolfo J. Paiz
rpaiz(a)simpaticus.com
http://www.simpaticus.com