[vlc] Re: VLC fit for mobile / 3GP business?

[Derk-Jan Hartman]

On 21 jun 2005, at 20:29, Jean-Paul Saman wrote:
> Koen Smeets wrote:
>> Sorry for this unconventional post, but I have sent the e-mail below  
>> to videolan at videolan.org twice now. Unfortunately, I have not  
>> received an answer up to now. This is why I decided to post to  
>> streaming@ and vlc at videolan.org.
>>
> I guess vlc at videolan.org is the more appropriate mailinglist.

>> Hopefully one of the core team members reads this post or,  
>> alternatively, any of you can be of assistence. We are very serious  
>> about considering open source as an alternative to commercial  
>> streaming solutions.
>>
> Is Dutch core developer also welcome ;-)

Or two ? :D

<cut>

>> The results mentioned have given a boost to look into alternatives,  
>> one of which is using (GPLed) open source solutions such as VideoLan.  
>> Having used VideoLan myself mainly in a home environment, I am  
>> wondering what use vlc could be to this client. I would appreciate it  
>> if we could be in contact to discuss vlc from the context I am in  
>> right now. Some topics which come to my mind are:
>> *	IPR issues (also referring here to the 'banana' campaign banner on  
>> your website).

In this respect reading the following slashdot articles from today  
might be a good idea:
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/06/20/2210216.shtml? 
tid=155&tid=185&tid=17
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/06/21/1418250.shtml?tid=155&tid=3

Basically software patents are a major threat to any form of serious  
long term development of software, especially to programs as filled  
with algorithmes as Video applications. Free and Open Source Software  
is especially at risk, because they have no patent portfolio nor  
financial resources to defend themselves with.
The new EU law won't immediately effect any software, but does open the  
gates for ANYONE to sue a developer, a FOSS foundation or a user of  
FOSS. If you care about the future of development of software in europe  
every european should contact his local EU representative. Also see  
http://noepatents.eu.org/

>> *	MPEG licensing

Well there aren't patents in europe just yet, so atm as long as you are  
EU based, you don't actually even have to pay the MPEG licensing costs  
I guess. Otherwise, ouR stance is that the client needs to make sure  
the mpeg licensing fees are paid for there use. VLC is no company and  
as such does not pay the MPEG licensing organization these fees, as  
commercial companies are required.

>> *	Development
Well the advantage of VLC is that what it doesn't do, you can always  
implement. This is something that a lot of commercial implementations  
of similar software of course do not provide.

>> *	Reliability as a large-scale streaming server
>> *	Fitness for purpose as a transcoder and streaming server to mobile  
>> devices *	3GPP compliance
> 3GPP is supported for streaming and client.
>>
>> My suggestion would be that maybe we can set up a (conference) call  
>> to explore the issues we have at hand. Please note that this is in a  
>> very early, exploratory phase, and no guaruantees whatsoever on  
>> continued talks can be given at this point in time.
>>
> Mail me at my private address so we could arrange a meeting in  
> Eindhoven face to face.
>
> Greetings,
> Jean-Paul Saman.
>
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>
>
---
Universiteit Twente
Derk-Jan Hartman (d.hartman at student.utwente dot nl)
http://www.sidequest.org

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