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It isn't about the implementation's license, it's about patents. H.264 is patented while Theora is not. This makes it illegal for anybody to distribute H.264 de
by FooBarWidget 17y ago
It isn't about the implementation's license, it's about patents. H.264 is patented while Theora is not. This makes it illegal for anybody to distribute H.264 decoding software, whether open source or not, until they've paid for the patent license.
- pbhj 17y agoFooBarWidget: "This makes it illegal for anybody to distribute H.264 decoding software, whether open source or not, until they've paid for the patent license." Only within the jurisdictions in which the patent is valid and in force (renewal fees paid).
- blasdel 17y agoPatents limit distribution of the 'machine', and are intended to make the 'plans' describing how to build it a matter of public record. Distributing the source code does not infringe the patent.