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Originally Posted by sers^^
What the heck? Though the name implies it's not, the only thing LAME can do is encoding MP3's, it just has that name because GNU projects like to have confusing names I believe (the site even states it can encode MP3's). Maybe encoding MP3's with another encoder is illegal, but listening to them is not. Nor is viewing a GIF less legal than viewing a PNG, just because GIF uses a patented compression technique. |
I think Franhofer holds some patents to do with MP3 (specifically, MPEG-1 layer 2/3 audio), and want money out of anyone who makes a MP3 encoder. LAME is very careful in a) distributing in source only and b) being intended as an experimental proof-of-concept-sorta-thing. Unfortuantly, a certain organisation in the UK that you really do not want to end up on the wrong side of (and no, I don't mean the BPI) has got the wrong end of the stick regarding this (see my post in the European constitution thread for more details).
A different company holds certain patents to do with GIFs, and they tried to get royalties for every GIF in existence. I think they failed (else you'd be paying them whenever you created or distributed a GIF). Part of the reason for PNG was a patent-free alternative to GIF that happened to be better.
Tubz: I'll have a look at the forum in a bit and then give you lot the next instalment from Radio BoggyB (I assume you're enjoying it, as I haven't seen any high-velocity rotten fruit yet)
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-- Torkell
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