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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."

49 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. Finally! by clang_jangle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Every time I convert someone to Ubuntu, the first thing I always do is download and install the "illegal" mplayer codecs. Otherwise, the poor user will click on some multimedia file and get that god-awful "search for codecs" dialog, which is usually enough to freak them out. It makes them feel they are dealing with a lesser OS, because it doesn't "just work" like they've come to expect (of course, they usually didn't install Windows either or they'd know better).
    I hope Canonical will just sell the install media (and download) with the codecs already in it. That would work really well for a lot of people. A boxed Ubuntu with all codecs on the store shelves for about $30 - $45 right next to the Windows Vista boxes (on sale for JUST $199!) would probably do quite well. Plus the word would start getting out how much easier it is to install and live with than Windows.
    Yes, I wish we lived in a world where all formats, protocols, and standards were Free, but they never will be so long as capitalism remains our official state religion. Meanwhile, we still want to watch our movies and play our music.

    --
    Caveat Utilitor
    1. Re:Finally! by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 3, Interesting

      If they want to make deals with the devil then they could bargain for better proprietary drivers for crap like advanced photo printers and iPods. Does Ubuntu have a decent zero-config wireless utility yet?

    2. Re:Finally! by clang_jangle · · Score: 5, Informative

      I don't think so, but Kubuntu definitely does. They really should either make the kde net admin utility the standard for Ubuntu or upgrade the gnome version to be zero-conf as well.

      --
      Caveat Utilitor
    3. Re:Finally! by Zancarius · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, I wish we lived in a world where all formats, protocols, and standards were Free, but they never will be so long as capitalism remains our official state religion.

      I think it is more appropriate to blame a broken patent system than capitalism itself. Patents impede competition which is an important concept in capitalism.

      --
      He who has no .plan has small finger. ~ Confucius on UNIX
    4. Re:Finally! by PunkOfLinux · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No, there's a lot of crap you have to do to get iPods working...

      It doesn't actually conform to the USB Mass Storage spec, at least not for music. File storage, sure, but otherwise, no.

      --
      Show this to your friends and family that don't know what a real hacker is
    5. Re:Finally! by Tatsh · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I agree they should definitely box up Ubuntu (Shuttleworth has got the funds) and start selling it right alongside Windows Vista. Even I might buy it just to support more GNU/Linux/FOSS development (Ubuntu is just one facet in the whole thing). $30-$45 is definitely a reasonable price for an OS that is 50x better than Windows and with that, free upgrades (I am assuming). People may not flock immediately, but with word they will.

    6. Re:Finally! by thetoadwarrior · · Score: 3, Informative

      Ubuntu + Amarok = iPod perfection, imo.

    7. Re:Finally! by schwinn8 · · Score: 5, Informative

      WICD works wonderfully for me, with zero issues...? http://wicd.sourceforge.net/

    8. Re:Finally! by kwark · · Score: 4, Informative

      You should look into wpa_supplicant, on Debian/Unstable (so I guess ubuntu should have this also) it couldn't get any easier: /etc/network/interfaces:
      allow-hotplug wlan0
      iface wlan0 inet manual
        wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

      iface home inet static
        address 10.0.1.67
        netmask 255.255.255.0
        gateway 10.0.1.254

      iface elsewhere inet dhcp /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf:

      network={
        ssid="myhomessid"
        id_str="home"
        scan_ssid=1
        key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
        psk="areallytopsecretpassphrase"
      }

      network={
        ssid="FON_AP"
        id_str="elsewhere"
        scan_ssid=1
        key_mgmt=NONE
      }

      But you are using WEP at home? I hope you know what you are doing.

    9. Re:Finally! by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      WPA supplicant is a mess. I should be able to type in a network name and passhprase at a prompt, and be done with it.

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    10. Re:Finally! by fermion · · Score: 3, Insightful
      I am not sure that this is a problem with the patent system or capitalism. The patent system is largely protecting the inventor. I don't think any of the right holders of these codecs are poor, although the inventors might well be. Likewise the market is doing what it always does; provide products. This is why, for the most part, market economies do not have empty shelves, or people waiting in line for hours for product that does not exist. This is the working part of the market system. It is not feasible to create a product, and then deny it to the market. This is why we have knock off Gucci bags.

      Of course, the other half of the market system is a legal framework that does not encourage socialism. That is, make producers liable for the products, and prevent the government from limiting those liabilities. Of course, in the name of public safety and stability, there is some benefit to some market meddling. Of course, the problem occurs when government socializes businesses while stil leaving them in large private hands, as has happened this week in the US. The executives reap huge rewards while the taxpayer takes a bath.

      So, in this case, there is no simple legal and free way to get a driver for linux, so the market created one, in terms of gray market drivers. The market has also created a 100% above board driver. The only question remains, for a market point of view, is it worthwhile to prosecute those that use the grey market download. Certainly from a socialist point of view it is, because the government will pay the bills, and the right owner will reap the reward. Perhaps from a law and order point of view this is also prudent. But what it comes down to is that patents do not be defended to remain valid, the money lost through these grey downloads are likely not significant, and like MS Windows, the benefit of universal access probably outweighs any issue of lost revenue.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    11. Re:Finally! by Teun · · Score: 5, Informative
      The best network manager around is wicd.

      For many it's the only way to get a reliable WPA connection.

      --
      "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
    12. Re:Finally! by cyphercell · · Score: 4, Informative

      http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/

      intel wireless chipsets are NICE. I bought a dell laptop with ubuntu pre-installed that came with an intel wireless chipset, I have no problems whatsoever.

      the big thing for ubuntu would be to pressure other hardware makers to go the same route as intel, guess it hasn't been working out. as a customer I prefer to support intel and other hardware manufacturers that provide support for Foss drivers.

      --
      Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
    13. Re:Finally! by NeverVotedBush · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I checked their site and one of the codecs they offer there is Fluendo's mp3 codec.

      I recently tried Fluendo's free version and it didn't sound right and seemed to have artifacts. I instead went to pacman and downloaded their mp3 codec and things sounded much better.

      Maybe the Fluendo pay version is better than the free one. At any rate, I hope Ubuntu offers good codecs for sale so people still aren't turned off from Linux.

    14. Re:Finally! by Teun · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The patent system is largely protecting the inventor.

      Indeed and for me rightfully so.

      But patents on Software (formulas you know) are not right.
      Some sort of reward for a developer might be appropriate but it has to be tied to the industry.

      And in software that means maybe only for 3 or 5 years max.

      --
      "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
    15. Re:Finally! by Aphoxema · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sometimes the easiest way to give something away "for free" after no one will take it is to put a price on it. It's a little disturbing to see how often this is necessary at yard sales. People ignore the 'free' sign on the little end table that has nothing wrong with it, but the second I put a "25c" sticker on it someone comes along and goes "Is that really only 25 cents!?"

      --
      "Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
    16. Re:Finally! by nawcom · · Score: 3, Informative

      I should also say that its not just for wpa_supplicant; it is also used as a general dhcp client gui, so lan cards are managed also.

    17. Re:Finally! by CaptPungent · · Score: 3, Informative

      Eh? This is all I have to do with my Ubuntu workstation...Just click for the dropdown, select the network (WPA encrypted) and put in the password, after that it saves the PW and I have never had to put it back in....I never realized it was a problem, it "Just Worked" for me.

      --
      C Pungent
    18. Re:Finally! by Teun · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm no poly sci major, but I think patents constitute government interference in the free market.

      Sure, and telling you what side of the road to drive on is interference in Darwinism.

      --
      "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
    19. Re:Finally! by Arthur+B. · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The problems experienced can be traced back to the 1913. No, not just since Monday.

      --
      \u262D = \u5350
    20. Re:Finally! by entrylevel · · Score: 4, Funny

      This is why I gave-up on proprietary OSes.

      That word... I do not think it means what you think it means.

      --
      Karma: Incomprehensible (Mostly affected by posting at +5, reading at -1, and metamoderating everything unfair.)
    21. Re:Finally! by Zancarius · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But patents on Software (formulas you know) are not right.
      Some sort of reward for a developer might be appropriate but it has to be tied to the industry.

      And in software that means maybe only for 3 or 5 years max.

      Exactly, and well said. It's unfortunate that those of us who speak out against software patents are labeled amongst the tin-foil hat socialist crowd that is somehow against inventors, the free market, or demand government intervention (which is what patents are). As you suggested, software for specific purposes is very limited in duration (presumably because it becomes outdated within that time frame). I think patents are a very important protection for tangible inventions, but they're a horrible thing when it comes to software--or formulae, as you stated. As an aside, I love that simplification you offer, because it brings everything to the crux of the matter which is that software patents are oftentimes very narrow in scope and involve either an algorithm or a user interface that is so blatantly obvious, prior art has likely preceded any patent by years!

      --
      He who has no .plan has small finger. ~ Confucius on UNIX
    22. Re:Finally! by jedidiah · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's just like what Redhat did in the early days.

      Ubuntu has never been about Free Software Purity.
      We have Debian for that. I don't see what the big
      deal is here. Are you people forgetful or just
      haven't been around long enough?

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    23. Re:Finally! by McGiraf · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No that is really really really bad, you now have free Linux and pay Linux. The free Linux will bw see as crippleware and 10 years down half of a Linux system will be closed source paid apps with shinny DRM. This is a dangerous precedent.

    24. Re:Finally! by asdfghjklqwertyuiop · · Score: 3, Informative

      intel wireless chipsets are NICE.

      No they aren't. My laptop came with an ipw2100. If in the presence of more than a few APs the card will hang and the driver will restart it, hanging everything for a second or two. This is a bug that has been known about for years and still isn't fixed. I gave up waiting for them a while ago and replaced the piece of crap with an Atheros card. No more hangs.

  2. Not new, just streamlined. by pwnies · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The big thing here is not that they're offering them for sale, but that they're streamlining the process of the sale. The codecs have always been available for sale through fluendo's store, canonical is just making the process of sale slightly easier. The only thing I'm concerned about is that users will get the wrong message. New convertees to ubuntu (and there are a lot of them) might think that this whole "linux is free" thing is just a scam. Time will tell.

    1. Re:Not new, just streamlined. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Here is the real win for Canonical... OEM pre-installs.

      Its doubtful that anyone who downloads Ubuntu for free will pay for these things... they will find the no-cost alternatives and use them.

      What this does do however is give OEMs who want to pre-install Canonical a legal way to include these encumbered bits of software and roll the cost into the sale price of the computer/device the customer is purchasing.

      So really this is a mechanism aimed at people buying computers with Ubuntu pre-installed, who won't be given a choice as to whether or not to spend the money on these things. The cost will be included in the price tag of the device.

      It's actually a pretty smart move, and makes Ubuntu more attractive to OEMs.

      OEMs and Ubuntu boxsets.

  3. Given the legal structures in place... by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...this actually makes sense. (What that says about the legal structures in place, of course, is a separate question.)

    --
    PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
  4. Re:Somebody had to do it... by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 5, Informative

    My only question is, how much will it cost?

    Streaming media and web stuff: USD$40. DVD playback: USD$50.00.

    --
    PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
  5. Depends. by DrYak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    New convertees to ubuntu (and there are a lot of them) might think that this whole "linux is free" thing is just a scam. Time will tell.

    It depends how the streamlined process puts it.
    If it is clearly stated that mostly all of linux is free, but in some legislation, there are patent fees applying for some technologies needed to access media.
    If its clearly worded, the convertees could even better understand why everyone is making such a fuss about the patent system with this concrete example : There this nice thing called Linux, should be free for anyone to use, but no, because of some obscure patent, you're forced to pay.

    Of course this problem is mainly constricted to English language where the word "free" collides two separate ideas of "freedom" and "costs nothing".

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
  6. It's a good thing by steveha · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Whatever you may think about software patents, the fact is that Canonical only has three choices here:

    0) Not offer this software

    1) Include the software for free, and break the law in some countries

    2) Offer legal software, and pay the licensing fees

    Ubuntu is my favorite distribution, and I'm happy to see legal, supported DVD playback.

    I'm really tired of reading reviews that say "Great distribution, but it can't play back any of my media."

    Now let's get Dell, Gateway, etc. to start pre-installing Ubuntu with the extra media options. It will be a better out-of-box experience than Vista.

    steveha

    --
    lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
  7. Good on 'em! by LocutusMIT · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One of the things I've always liked about Ubuntu is their decision to give the users the choice between running completely free and open source software or accepting proprietary [(though often still free (as in beer)] software on their computers.

    While I think it shameful that the DVD producers have decided that I need to pay extra to run a DVD that I already own, I applaud Canonical for giving me the option to do so easily.

    1. Re:Good on 'em! by stubear · · Score: 3, Informative

      "While I think it shameful that the DVD producers have decided that I need to pay extra to run a DVD that I already own,..."

      No, they have not decided this. They charge a license for codecs to DVD player manufacturers as well but those are built in to the devices out of the box so the costs are already part of the price set by the manufacturer. With computers, you do not purchase the ability to use your system as a DVD player simply y purchasing hardware, you purchase the codecs, and subsequently, through the OS or similar solution such as the one offered by Ubuntu.

  8. Re:Somebody had to do it... by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 4, Funny

    I get an assortment of professional third party software (eg Photoshop)

    If you're getting Photoshop for free, too, then you shouldn't have any problem with the free Linux codecs. :->

    --
    PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
  9. Re:Canonical == Microsoft by snl2587 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know you're just trolling, but for those who actually feel this way, look at it like this:

    Canonical knows that a large proportion of Ubuntu users download and use the "illegal" codecs without paying the license fees (either directly, where it applies, or indirectly by using the programs that the codec can be legally used for). Canonical does not own these codecs and cannot legally provide or create free alternatives due to all of the craziness surrounding patent law. So they offer an option for their legally-conscious users and business users: fully-supported, license-fee-paid codecs that will not put their users in legal jeopardy.

    Please tell me what the evil in this is.

  10. uh huh by David+Gerard · · Score: 4, Informative

    'Cos, y'know, it's not like you can just install VLC from Synaptic.

    (VLC is also my favourite media and DVD player on Mac.)

    --
    http://rocknerd.co.uk
    1. Re:uh huh by GFree678 · · Score: 3, Informative

      The version of VLC that is available in the official Ubuntu repositories does NOT have the necessary codec to go along with it, for legal reasons. To enable support for encrypted DVDs (i.e. the ones people want to watch), you need to install libdvdcss2 from something like Medibuntu, which is the whole issue due to its questionable legality. The alternative is to download and compile VLC themselves from the main Videolan site, but that takes even more work.

  11. Re:Somebody had to do it... by vwjeff · · Score: 3, Informative

    Microsoft does not support DVD playback for free but most PCs sold with DVD drives have playback software installed by the OEM.

  12. Patent Fees and Supreme court decision by mlwmohawk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A little while back there was a supreme court decision about patent exhaustion. (I think that was the term.) It basically said that if company A licenses a patent to company B, and company B produces a product utilizing the patent and sells the product to company C, C does not need to pay A for the patent.

    I wonder if this is a useful defense against "illegal" codecs. I mean, the patent holder license the patent to the media creator and the media creator sells us the product. Shouldn't the patent obligation been handled between the licensor and the media company? Aren't we in fact, entity "C?"
     

  13. Re:not illegal by mweather · · Score: 3, Funny

    Let's test your theory. Put DeCSS up on a website hosted in the US with your name and address on it, then mail a link to the FBI.

  14. ...You blinded her? by XanC · · Score: 5, Funny

    On purpose? Did you go to jail?

  15. Patent Exhaustion -- continued by mlwmohawk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    http://spie.org/x26516.xml

    So, if patent exhaustion is more expansive than previously thought.

    If we purchase a DVD, should we not have also (included with the purchase) rights to the patent used in the product, i.e. the compression algorithms?

    The used the "IP" to produce the product and paid the license to do so. Why should we be further encumbered? It isn't as if we are creating new content with the codecs, we'd use free ones for that.

    Any lawyers want to start a class action for EVERYONE that owns a DVD player?

  16. Re:But are they better? by BobMcD · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Do other dvds work? If so, then it's the discs, stupid.

    Yeah, I'm that stupid. Thanks for pointing it out.

    Yes other discs work in linux. Guess what though, those SAME DAMN DVDS work great in the SAME DAMN HARDWARE, booted to Windows.

    Thanks for the snarky comment, though.

  17. Re:Somebody had to do it... by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Or, like me, they will say "fuck that" and use "illegal" codecs, laws be damned.

    I'm not creating content with your proprietary codecs, so you can fuck off with your royalties.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  18. Woohoo! by TheDarkener · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How can anyone see this as bad? Canonical is giving you a CHOICE - *not* vendor lock-in. You can still install codecs in any other fashion suitable for your situation - but for those who don't WANT or have the knowledge of HOW to install them illegally, manually, or what have you - this is a new option.

    Go Canonical! Go choice!

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  19. Re:Somebody had to do it... by Nimey · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Splorf! When you can get a cheap new DVD player for $20 to $30 at $BIGBOXSTORE, $50 to enable the codec on your computer is a /bit/ excessive.

    They're pricing themselves out of the market. If I started feeling guilty about installing ubuntu-restricted-extras and not paying the intellectual-property tax, I might consider paying $10 to $15 to play DVDs and media files, but not $90.

    --
    Hail Eris, full of mischief...

    E pluribus sanguinem
  20. Re:Somebody had to do it... by berashith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    strange, that is the same DVD drive that I use with my linux box. Didnt I already pay for the codec then?

  21. And wireless too by theshowmecanuck · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I wish they would sell wireless drivers there too.

    --
    -- I ignore anonymous replies to my comments and postings.
  22. Re:patented, not propritary by benwaggoner · · Score: 4, Informative

    No. I'm sure they're making a pretty penny here. The highest single codec license fee I know if is MPEG-2, which was $2.50 last I checked. VC-1 and H.264 are less than a dollar each.

    Lots more about codec licensing than you'd ever care to learn can be found at http://www.mpegla.com/.

    --

    My video compression blog