Bug#396954: Bug# 396954: mplayer: please also provide mencoder

[Andres Mejia]

On Monday 04 May 2009 01:01:12 Reinhard Tartler wrote:
> Andres Mejia <mcitadel at gmail.com> writes:
> > Is this bug going to be fixed or should this bug be tagged "wontfix"?
> >
> > I don't understand why mencoder is not included in Debian. Debian has the
> > ffmpeg encoder in main. Why is mencoder not distributed as well?
>
> AFAIUI, mplayer was only accepted into debian under the provision that
> mencoder is removed.
>
> However, things have changed a bit. The objections with the encoders can
> be adressed in the same way as in ffmpeg, so IMO it should make no
> problem to introduce mencoder into debian proper, under the provision
> that the same encoder policy as in ffmpeg is applied to mplayer as well.

So Debian may at the least carry a stripped version of mencoder. This still 
makes me unhappy. :-(

> See also bug #522373.

I've read the bug. It's been a little over a month now and no response. Perhaps 
a discussion should be started at debian-legal, debian-devel, and/or debian-
policy.

I too think there should be clarification on what to do for concerns about any 
and all patents, not just mpeg related ones. It's not clear at all, and the only 
place where the word "patent" is mentioned in debian-policy is section 2.2.3 (I 
did a site search for "patent" through google).

I think debian-policy should be revised to cover topics on patents, or a 
relevant General Resolution should be proposed.

-- 
Regards,
Andres
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