Java Media Framework Drops MP3

realinvalidname writes "Sun had stopped downloads of its Java Media Framework about a week ago due to an undisclosed 'licensing issue.' Now we know what it is, as they've removed MP3 encoding and decoding from the JMF that's downloadable now. Of course, this isn't surprising given recent news about new MP3 licensing terms."

Comments

not the reason??

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe someone should check out this article first:

"Thomson has never charged a per unit royalty for freely distributed software decoders. For commercially sold decoders - primarily hardware mp3 players - the per-unit royalty has always been in place since the beginning of the program," a spokesman said"

"A Thomson spokesman told NewsForge's Robin Miller that it was a ruse by Ogg Vorbis advocates to get publicity.® "

http://www.theregus.com/content/4/26153.html

Re:not the reason??

[ftobin]

You're getting your information from a PR person. I'm getting mine from the licensing page. I see no such exception for free decoders.

Javalayer MP3 Player

[jpavel]

Fortunately, there is an open source Java MP3 decoder, JavaLayer that I've found to work quite nicely.

Re:Javalayer MP3 Player

[Anonymous Coward]

which still has the patent issue, which may well invalidate the project being GPL.

boo fscking hoo

[Anonymous Coward]

I already pirate music.
Why should I care if I have to pirate the codec as well?

In case you're wondering, yes, I really do board boats, rape the women, kill the crew and take all the CDs on board. So there.

Re: Java Bug 4499904

[bunratty]

Adding support for Ogg Vorbis and Tarkin is bug 4499904 in the Bug Parade. This seems like a good time to vote for the bug and add your comments.

Re:Unfortunate

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem with Sun "donating" the licenses is that commercial products using JMF would normally be required to pay for the encoder. Say, a portable MP3 player running on an embedded Java platform. Sun is not in a position to say who will be using the codec in an acceptable way and who won't. So the only solution they have is to drop the distributed support. They had a similar situation a while back with the Java Cryptography Extension.

All's not lost, however. JMF is a pluggable API, after all. Commercial products can make their own arrangements, while a freely-distributable codec could be made (by someone else) which can just be dropped in.

As for Ogg... give them a bit of time. It's easier to remove something (especially for legal reasons) than it is to put a replacement in. If you can't wait, write an Ogg codec for JMF and everyone using JMF will be able to drop it in and take advantage of it. :)

Re:That's ok.

[cscx]

I don't think that exempts you from the obligatory licensing fee.

No, Don't mod parent up

[hayden]

From the article you posted:

[In reference to charging licence fees] For commercially sold decoders - primarily hardware mp3 players

Keyword, "primarily" meaning mostly but not only hardware decoders. Also:

Therefore, there is no change in our licensing policy

Keyword, "policy" meaning yes the licence has changed but our intent currently remains the same.

Basically Thompson have said they currently don't plan to sue anyone making a software decoder but they don't grant you the right to use their patent either. Nobody selling or planning on selling software can use their patent without risk of infringement (and compensation pays triple if you knowingly infringe a patent) and being sued by Thompson in the future.

What some PR flack said doesn't change that. It's only what's in the licence that counts.

Next time, when you post a story that's clearly going to cause paranoia and misunderstanding, try to be a bit more adult about it.

Next time when you are clearing posting to spread misinformation and crap, try posting as you so you can get modded down for it.