From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Keith Duthie Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 16:02:36 +0000 Subject: Re: good (and free) mp3 encoders? Message-Id: List-Id: References: In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit To: linux-sound@vger.kernel.org On Sat, 22 May 1999, Michael Stutz wrote: > IIRC there can't be an mp3 encoder that is free software because of patent > problems; I seem to have heard of recent changes in the patent ownership but > I don't think that the situation has changed. So if we want a free mp3 > encoder, we will have to either convince the patent holders that this is > okay, or design a replacement format that we can use with free software > (this is actually an item on the GNU Task List, but I don't think that > anyone is working on it yet). Not entirely true. Bladeenc is going to be released with source[1] if and when some patent issues are dealt with. These patent issues are very strange. Apparently software can't be patented is Sweden, but the mp3 guys have a software patent in Sweden. Look at the bladeenc site http://www.bladeenc.cjb.net for more details. [1] apparently it will not be LGPLed as the author originally intended due to the patent -- Understanding is a three edged sword. Do you *want* to get the point? http://www.albatross.co.nz/~psycho/ O-