>, how do ffmpeg and vlc go around that problem then? The ffmpeg project does not distribute binaries with unlicensed or illegal code. E.g. if you want ffmpeg

>, how do ffmpeg and vlc go around that problem then? The ffmpeg project does not distribute binaries with unlicensed or illegal code. E.g. if you want ffmpeg to use libdvdcss for decrypting DVDs or use libfdk-aac to encode aac/m4a without paying license royalties to Fraunhofer, the end user has to download those components and build a custom ffmpeg on their own. No legitimate website will host ffmpeg built with the "illegal/unlicensed" libraries. E.g. When the popular Zeranoe website hosted ffmpeg executables for download, it was only built with the free GNU components. The vlc project says they can include libdvdcss because they are a French company instead of American. E.g. Microsoft removes DVD playback from Windows 8 but VLC does not: https://www.zdnet.com/article/if-vlc-can-ship-a-free-dvd-player-why-cant-microsoft/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/if-vlc-can-ship-a-free-dvd-pla...