Open Source, Real Media Mega-player?

chill writes "CNN is reporting "RealNetworks on Monday will unveil a new open source version of its streaming media software that supports multiple file formats for audio and video, including those that use Microsoft's Windows Media technology." and "RealNetworks did not formally license the ability to offer Windows Media software, but instead re-created the technology based on data streams sent between the server and player software, The New York Times reported. A Microsoft representative told the newspaper that the company would need to determine whether RealNetworks licensed the software before taking action. " I can't wait to see the actual license." Update: 07/22 19:10 GMT by T : The software can be downloaded from the Helix site, if you're interested.

Comments

Re:Part Open Source, Part Not

[SpatchMonkey]

• This license has yet to be approved by the Open Source Initiative
  board, or accepted by the Free Software Foundation, or even fully reviewed by
  yours truly. It may have to be modified before it is worthy of acceptance by
  the community.

You say 'acceptance by the community', but what you really mean is acceptance by the dictatorship that is the FSF and the OSI. Everyone else interested in whatever sort of 'free' or open source software there might be can do what the hell they like.

I detect gross misuse of the words 'community' and 'free' here.

Re:But..

[SpatchMonkey]

Success in this industry isn't about following the rules, son. It's about greed and deviousness.

You'll go far if you learn to be a complete bastard sooner rather than later.

Re:Part Open Source, Part Not

[Bruce Perens]

Yes. And that was the case with the original Netscape Public License, too. So, consider that before you invest your effort. Some people will. Some people like the BSD license, which lets people go private with your work as well. I'm more in the GPL camp.

Bruce