Re: Brasero improvements over the 2.26 release cycle

[Brian Cameron <Brian Cameron Sun COM>]

Josselin:

> Le lundi 12 janvier 2009 à 19:18 +0000, Bastien Nocera a écrit :
> > > - Split Brasero into a library (available on trunk) named
> > > libbrasero-media that is being documented (devhelp) and re-arranged so
> > > we can deliver a stable API.
> > The library isn't usable in Rhythmbox or sound-juicer, as it conflicts
> > with their license (GPLv2 vs. GPLv2 + exception).
>
> Well, they are not incompatible per se, it’s just that the exception
> cannot apply if rhythmbox/sound-juicer links to this library.

Considering how much work has gone into adding this exception to
rhythmbox, totem, and songbird; it would be a shame to toss that
work out.

I don't believe sound-juicer yet has the exception.  I believe the
upstream community is working on it.

  http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=513615
  http://live.gnome.org/SoundJuicerRelicense

> For the record, what is making this exception necessary? I don’t think
> any non-GPL-compatible GStreamer plugins are required for the normal
> operation of rb or s-j.

No distribution can ship any popular non-free GStreamer codecs if
the GStreamer based programs link in any GPL code without the exception.

So, with the exception a distro or mobile device OS using
GNOME/GStreamer could purchase a MP3 audio license and include that with
their GStreamer based-engine.  If we link in code which removes that
exception, then distros lose this ability.  This drives people towards
using other operating systems where they can distribute with popular
non-free support built in.

Considering how important mobile is to the GNOME community these days,
and how important it is to play things like mp3 audio files or YouTube
videos on mobile devices, I would think this would be pretty important
issue and concern.

Brian