3 ms·

Could it be that Microsoft is selling the codec extension because MPEG-LA would otherwise ask them to pay a fee for every single Windows installation with the c

Could it be that Microsoft is selling the codec extension because MPEG-LA would otherwise ask them to pay a fee for every single Windows installation with the codec included? and since Windows is very often pirated Microsoft would be paying fees for installations nobody paid for, effectively losing money.

number6 4y ago
If windows would be free, would they have to pay? Also how is Mac doing it or Linux?
- HidyBush 4y ago
  Apple pays in order to distribute the codec on their devices, and since hackintoshes are very uncommon and iOS can't be installed anywhere else they aren't worried about those rare cases. Also Linux has nothing to do with video codecs. Microsoft and Apple have to pay because they are based in the U.S. VLC claims to get away with it because they're in France but the situation is not totally clear.
- TingPing 4y ago
  No being free doesn't help them. Linux is distro dependent but generally it's not distributed by any large US company. Community projects play loose with using patented software. Apple surely licenses it.
quitit 4y ago
Microsoft wouldn’t be paying licensing fees for pirated software as their platform includes sufficient protections against piracy. Currently with activation and formerly with serial codes. It’s just a method of reducing cost - Microsoft did the same with the DVD playing codec. Their own DVD player wouldn’t function until a 3rd party codec was installed. One should also think back to Microsoft’s approach to fonts. Where they made Frankenfonts instead of licensing the real ones.
- foverzar 4y ago
  > as their platform includes sufficient protections against piracy You are joking, right? KMS activation is a total no-brainer, most of the times it is even already included in the build iso, so it "just works". I always thought that everyone kinda understood that MS has been using piracy as a mean to popularize it's OS. Let some individual in Russia use pirated Windows, you will be paid anyway when this kid gets a job and starts using Windows in enterprise.
  - zinekeller 4y ago
    > You are joking, right? KMS activation is a total no-brainer, most of the times it is even already included in the build iso, so it "just works". Ssssshhhhhh, you should read it as as their platform includes **legally-sufficient** protections against piracy
    - quitit 4y ago
      Precisely, the parent post is being facetious. It’s the same as why we have basic locks on our homes even though a drill can open it in less than 30 seconds.

number6 4y ago

If windows would be free, would they have to pay? Also how is Mac doing it or Linux?

HidyBush 4y ago
Apple pays in order to distribute the codec on their devices, and since hackintoshes are very uncommon and iOS can't be installed anywhere else they aren't worried about those rare cases. Also Linux has nothing to do with video codecs. Microsoft and Apple have to pay because they are based in the U.S. VLC claims to get away with it because they're in France but the situation is not totally clear.
TingPing 4y ago
No being free doesn't help them. Linux is distro dependent but generally it's not distributed by any large US company. Community projects play loose with using patented software. Apple surely licenses it.

quitit 4y ago

Microsoft wouldn’t be paying licensing fees for pirated software as their platform includes sufficient protections against piracy. Currently with activation and formerly with serial codes. It’s just a method of reducing cost - Microsoft did the same with the DVD playing codec. Their own DVD player wouldn’t function until a 3rd party codec was installed. One should also think back to Microsoft’s approach to fonts. Where they made Frankenfonts instead of licensing the real ones.

foverzar 4y ago
> as their platform includes sufficient protections against piracy You are joking, right? KMS activation is a total no-brainer, most of the times it is even already included in the build iso, so it "just works". I always thought that everyone kinda understood that MS has been using piracy as a mean to popularize it's OS. Let some individual in Russia use pirated Windows, you will be paid anyway when this kid gets a job and starts using Windows in enterprise.
- zinekeller 4y ago
  > You are joking, right? KMS activation is a total no-brainer, most of the times it is even already included in the build iso, so it "just works". Ssssshhhhhh, you should read it as as their platform includes **legally-sufficient** protections against piracy
  - quitit 4y ago
    Precisely, the parent post is being facetious. It’s the same as why we have basic locks on our homes even though a drill can open it in less than 30 seconds.