Canonical Offers Sale of Proprietary Codecs for Ubuntu

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Friday September 19, 2008 @06:46AM 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."

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Re:Finally! by jep77 · 2008-09-19 06:52 · Score: 0, Redundant

I hope Canonical will just sell the install media (and download) with the codecs already in it
HOPE....
Re:Somebody had to do it... by RLiegh · 2008-09-19 06:55 · Score: 0, Redundant

Now it can be viewed skeptically for it's "bait and switch" claim. "Linux is free software, except you have to pay for these packages over here if you want to view any of your media, and no -you can't redistribute or modify them".
Fuck that; at least using windows I get the same functionality for free, I get an assortment of professional third party software (eg Photoshop) and I get a coherent, polished and aesthetically pleasing desktop as well!