Matthew William Solloway Bell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> On Sat, Apr 29, 2006 at 11:37:39PM +0100, Matthew William Solloway Bell >> wrote: >> > The packages libxine1, ffmpeg, include libfaad*, libx264* or another >> > codec which implement the MPEG-4 Advanced Audio Coding and Advanced >> > Video Coding standards. Unfortunately, these are patent encumbered in at >> > least the USA, and many other countries. To distribute code implementing >> > any of these patents, a license is required[1], assuming that the >> > claimed patents are valid. This license requires signing an agreement >> > and the payment of royalties, which hasn't been done AFAIK, and is >> > contrary to policy. >> > There is evidence of prior attempts of enforcement, specifically against >> > FAAD at AudioCoding.com[2]. >> >> This appears to refer to enforcement of patents covering encoding using the >> codecs in question. Do libxine1 and ffmpeg implement encoding of these, or >> just decoding? Is there a history of enforcement of patents on decoding of >> the codecs in question? > > Hmmm, I think I have missed something; what makes you draw this > conclusion? AudioCoding.com has removed all binaries including those > related to decoding. I see no reference to encoding only in [2]. The > licensing authorities in [1] have licenses that cover decoders. I did > look at their patent portfolio, but is was brief and shallow. I'm having > a closer look now. > > libxine: libfaad (AAC decoder) > vlc: libfaad (AAC decoder); libx264 (AVC decoder) > libavcodec0: libfaad (AAC decoder); libx264 (AVC decoder) > > AFAIK, libx264 is a decoder only but the decoding functions are called > x264_encoder_?
x264 is an AVC *encoder* only. libavcodec can optionally call it for AVC encoding. -- Måns Rullgård [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]