Gstreamer and GNU [LWN.net]

Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 13, 2005 15:21 UTC (Tue) by cantsin (subscriber, #4420)
Parent article: GStreamer to support DRM

I am not sure whether the "G" in Gstreamer refers to GNU, but the official Gstreamer FAQ states that "many of our hackers consider themselves also to be members of the GNOME community." Gnome (still) stands for "GNU Object Model Environment" and is (still) an official part of the GNU project. I wonder how DRM support can possibly be implemented in the name of GNU. Perhaps the FSF should talk to the Gstreamer and Gnome developers.

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Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 13, 2005 21:00 UTC (Tue) by proski (subscriber, #104) [Link]

I think DRM can be implemented in free software if the code is not intended to impose limitations on the users, or, in other words, if anything that limits the user is not a part of free software.

Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 13, 2005 22:27 UTC (Tue) by cantsin (subscriber, #4420) [Link]

It was clear to me that DRM support can be implemented as free software as
long as the code is free. But that a program is free software is one thing.
It is yet another thing if this program officially belongs to the GNU
project, i.e. if it's not just being GPLed or LPLed, but part of the FSF's
official GNU software stack like Gnome is. In the latter case, DRM support
would contradict GNU's stated philosophy and politics.

Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 14, 2005 5:37 UTC (Wed) by proski (subscriber, #104) [Link]

Indeed, GNOME states that it's a GNU project and includes GStreamer, version 0.8.3.

Anyway, I think there is no need to contact GNU and GNOME until a DRM enabled version of GStreamer is actually released. Many stated intentions never materialize.

Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 15, 2005 7:25 UTC (Thu) by zblaxell (subscriber, #26385) [Link]

DRM support in free software is easy. Just write a bunch of code like:

if (event.key == BUTTON_FAST_FORWARD) {
/* Altering this clause of the if statement is a violation of US law. */
if (stream.permit_ff) {
do_fast_forward();
} else {
display_silly_dont_press_that_button_again_icon();
}
}

Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 22, 2005 19:03 UTC (Thu) by beoba (guest, #16942) [Link]

What law would that be?

I'd have difficulty seeing that work in a GPLed product.

Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 23, 2005 21:18 UTC (Fri) by zblaxell (subscriber, #26385) [Link]

Whichever law they're (ab)using now to prevent mass-market DVD players that can fast-forward through all video sections of the disc.

Actually that wasn't such a good example, since fast-forwarding is not copyright infringement--you only agree to not fast-forward when the disc tells you to in your implied acceptance of the DVD player's shrink-wrap license.

Suppose the example instead checked the resolution of the output port (as in the new analog hole bill) and refused to emit output without authenticating whatever's connected to said port. All software-based DRM systems boil down to basically the same code as in my example. The only difference between most of the systems in the field and a GPLed DRM-encumbered player is that you can grep the source code for the GPLed DRM-encumbered player and easily circumvent the restriction (although apparently sometimes this is illegal). Of course, such GPL code wouldn't survive very long without removing the restrictions, since users of GPL code don't really tolerate people trying to tell them what they can't do with their own machines.

Gstreamer and GNU

Posted Dec 24, 2005 17:12 UTC (Sat) by ofranja (guest, #11084) [Link]

What if I dont care to "US Laws" and they do not affect me?