[plug] closed source DVD playback

[John Knight]

>Whats all the fuss about folks?
>Dont we already have open-source DVD players for Linux?

Yes we do, but they can only play DVDs that aren't encrypted and anyone 
people who'se tried to divx something would know that encryption free DVDs 
are few and far between at the moment.

As for what you've said here, you're probably right and all that, I'm not 
sure, I simply wanted to throw the idea to you guys and spur it on a little 
in case it's worth considering (I'm a newbie here). If it's not worth 
considering, then it's not really worth pursuing and we should give it up, 
but if you guys have some genuine ideas and thoughts, don't let me stop you!

>
>Re closed-source being non-portable across Linux systems, I would point
>out a significant exception. If its distributed as a binary library
>with no dependencies, then you can use it with an open-source app. and
>recompile the app for whatever (i386) platform.
>    A good example is the use of Win32 video and audio codecs in Linux.
>Now you can play just about any video file from the internet using
>the win32 DLLs.
>   Of course while such a library module could allow legal DVD playing on
>Linux without giving the keys away (any more than a windoze app), I dont
>suppose it could restrict copying. Would there be a way to give the
>closed-source library access to the video card with minimal dependencies,
>so it will work on all i386 Linuxies for years to come?
>   Would frame-buffer access be enough, or does it need video
>hardware-acceleration access?
>
>--
>Mike Holland  <myk at golden.wattle.id.au>
>			--==--
>"Everybody is talking about the weather but nobody does anything
>about it."      -- Mark Twain
>
>
>
>


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