everyday multimedia not supported in Ubuntu (Re: 3 days from the release, 3 machines, a few issues.

[Bob Nielsen]

On Fri, Apr 08, 2005 at 05:46:44PM +0200, Mario Vukelic wrote:
> On Fri, 2005-04-08 at 11:05 -0400, Ed Sutherland wrote:
> > This may be a rather noobish question, but can't Linux do with MP3 
> > decoding what was done with Microsoft's Word file format: that is, we 
> > don't have a Linux version of the application, but Linux applications 
> > which read the MS format? 
> 
> Not in most jurisdictions, because mp3 is patented. Patents cover
> the /idea/ not the implementation. You are prohibited to have the same
> idea. Well, maybe not have (IANAL), but you must not use it in any case.

There are mp3 encoders (lame) and decoders (mpg321) in universe.  The 
legality of their use remains murky, however.