[Rhythmbox-devel] linking mp3 decoders with rhythmbox

[Colin Walters <walters verbum org>]

Hi,

Havoc Pennington raised the issue on IRC of rhythmbox linking against
mp3 decoders like the mad GStreamer plugin.  Technically since the
plugin is using a patented codec, and rb is GPL the result is illegal to
distribute.  To work around this legalistic braindamage, we would have
to add an exception to the license saying that linking against any
GStreamer plugin is acceptable.

Havoc says he's going to try to see if we can get a lawyer like Eben
Moglen to help write an exception.

In the meantime though, I would like to float the idea here, because we
would need permission from all the copyright holders to change the
license.  Are you guys amenable to this?