[FFmpeg-devel] Possible license violation: VIDEO CONVERT MASTER

[Michel Bardiaux]

Benoit Fouet wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Michel Bardiaux wrote:
>> Diego Biurrun wrote:
>>   
>>> On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 05:55:21PM +0200, Michel Bardiaux wrote:
>>>     
>>>> The installer does not indicate any license. The HELP ABOUT threatens 
>>>> criminal penalties for unauthorized reproduction.
>>>>
>>>> On the website http://www.video-convert-master.com/index.htm I did not 
>>>> find any credit to ffmpeg, nor any mention of LGPL or GPL at all, nor, 
>>>> needless to say, any hint of the modified sources.
>>>>
>>>> After installation there is avcodec-51.dll, which in itself is enough to 
>>>> make the distribution, at least of the ffmpeg parts, LGPL; and 
>>>> xvidcore.dll, referenced by avcodec-51.dll, which is enough to make it 
>>>> GPL. There is an avcore.dll which seems to be based on ffmpeg.c
>>>>
>>>> I did not fully analyze the organization of the thing, but there does 
>>>> not seem to be an exe that references that avcore.dll, so I guess they 
>>>> use it by GetProcAddress, which some people consider a gray area for the 
>>>> enforcement of (L)GPL *but* only if an independent library with the same 
>>>> ABI exists, not the case here.
>>>>
>>>> Could someone verify my findings, especially the non-findings?
>>>>       
>>> Please add this to the tracker and to the Hall of Shame.
>>>
>>>     
>> Not before an independent verification (I made several wrong calls in 
>> the past!)
>>
>>   
> 
> I have the same remarks as you, Michel. That is: I didn't find any
> credits file (neither on the website, nor while installing/using the
> software), and it is quite clear it uses libav*
> 
And that is enough to warrant a place in the Hall of Shame. I will let 
the BCLO deal with the iffy question of whether the GPL applies only to 
the ffmpeg part or to the whole distribution.

Create issue #413 on the tracker.

Now I have to add it in the Hall of Shame, but I am unable to checkout 
the "shame" file by svn, what do I have to do?

-- 
Michel Bardiaux
http://www.mediaxim.com/