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Open Source, Real Media Mega-player?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the to-little-to-late dept.

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.

6 of 350 comments (clear)

  1. But.. by iONiUM · · Score: 5, Interesting

    but instead re-created the technology based on data streams sent between the server and player software,

    Dare I say it, however isn't this exactly what BnetD did with Battle.Net? Why can Real media get away with it but not BnetD? This makes no sense at all.

  2. reverse engineered? by Lxy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The article was light on details, but it sounds like RealNetworks was sniffing the data stream and reverse-engineering the Media Player protocol. I'm really hoping they did it the correct way, or Microsoft could literally sue them into oblivion.

    AFAIK, you can reverse engineer the protocol correctly. What you need to do is have a programmer or team of programmers reverse engineer the stream and create a working replica. Once they've successfully created a Windows Media streaming program, they sit in a conference room with a team of "virgin" programmers who haven't seen the source or any data from the stream. The virgin coders then talk with the team that reverse engineered the stream, but don't actually see the source or the technical information. The virgin coding team then takes that data and creates a new software component.

    I just really hope they took that vital step, otherwise RealNetworks is violating Microsoft's IP and will get sued off the face of the earth.

    --

    There is no reasonable defense against an idiot with an agenda
    :wq
  3. Parallels with Netscape? by jvmatthe · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Step 1: Make a name for yourself in the market
    Step 2: Microsoft steps in and begins to eat up your market with their desktop integration
    Step 3: Struggle. Squirm.
    Step 4: Release source to your application.

    Granted, this might not be all of Real's assets in the way that Netscape released their browser source, but it could be the leg up that free software needs to get into the streaming and streaming client market. Also, it bears noting that Netscape (i.e. AOL/TW) invested tons of money to make the product work after they released the source. The Mozilla project certainly wouldn't be where it is today without that investment.

    Now, how would it proceed?

    Step 5: Company is marginalized, possibly dies.
    Step 6: Free software product lives on.

    We've already seen Nautilus from Eazel do this on the GNOME desktop (although some people seem to dislike the bloated desktop). It certainly is a possibility with Netscape, given the recent troubles at AOL/Time Warner. And I can't remember the time I read a positive article about Real, but then again, I might just be missing out.

    Now, I guess I should read the CNN article... ;^)

    --
    Curmudgeon Gamer: Not happy
  4. Re:Part Open Source, Part Not by liquidsin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So if they have the right to take any derivative code and relicense it as they see fit, does that mean that once someone makes a usable version of their client software (which they seem unable to do themselves) they will just take it away and return it to a closed-source license?

    --
    do not read this line twice.
  5. Speaking of reverse engineering protocols . . . by 0bjectiv3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Microsoft did precisely the same thing to Novell's IPX/SPX protocol, developing a "clean room" implementation called NWLink. This protocol allowed for critical interoperability with Netware, and played a large role in companies' gradual migration to NT.

    In other words, Microsoft wouldn't be where it is today without reverse engineering.

    The sword cuts both ways, Billy.

    --

    "Saddam Hussein cavorts with terrorists."
  6. mplayer by Satai · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I really don't know why anyone didn't mention this before, but MPlayer is now able to link to the Real libraries and play Real formats. Those are closed codecs; but Helix looks like it'll be closed as well - so where's the advantage to using a Real sponsored player, when MPlayer uses all the same closed-source libraries, and the base system is GPL'd? If you contribute to MPlayer (which also plays ASF) then Real can't snag your work like they can with Helix...