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Canonical Offers Sale of Proprietary Codecs for Ubuntu

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the just-trying-to-help-the-users dept.

ruphus13 writes "Playing DVDs on Linux that required proprietary codecs has been a source of much pain. Ubuntu (or anyone else, for that matter) is not legally allowed to redistribute these codecs. So, users were left with sub-optimal choices. Convert the multimedia to an open format, acquire new media, or use a codec 'found' on the web, which may be illegal. In its continued effort to have a seamless and slick user experience, Canonical made the hard choice to offer the sale and support for proprietary codecs that users had to actually purchase for Ubuntu. This is not a fight Canonical can fight alone, and they are sure to get some grief for the decision."

2 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. Re:not illegal by mweather · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It has to be saved decoded somewhere, else it would not play. DeCSS just lengthens the time it is stored in a decoded state.

  2. Re:...You blinded her? by BobMcD · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It was an errant, er, shot that hit her in the eye. No worries, she rinsed it out.