[mythtv-users] Legality of selling MythTV and its Components?

[Jun Yu]

I believe if you use capture cards with mpeg2 encoder, the loyalty has been
paid for mpeg2 and MP3 by the manufacturer. Playback is not against any
patent they hold. And if you brought commercial dvd driver coming with a
software, the patent is paid again for DVD play back no matter if you are
using the software come with it or not. Otherwise it would mount to "double
taxation". Transcoding is problematic to some patented mpeg4. (no all of
them are though).
As for datadirect, you can sell the box with no account and let the buyer to
apply one. It would ruin the current situation for all of us I believe if
you sell more than a hundreds.
I don't think mythtv in its current implementation can become a sucessful
commercial product though. It was created by geeks and for the geeks.

Jun

On 5/3/06, glen martin <lists at locutory.org> wrote:
>
> Anthony Vito wrote:
> >>> are already crushing/cripling TiVo right out of business. Lets not
> >>>
> >> Lets not get confused here - the mythtv issue is about guide data, the
> >> issues tivo has had are generally about actual shows and other content.
> >> (Unfortunately, free or not, myth lives or dies in the US based on how
> tivo
> >> does on that front..)
> >>
> > I'm shocked they allow zap2it to distribute TV listings at all. They
> >
> > I'm aware of that. The content control is where they are really
> > after... MythTV being a non-company is much more difficult to control
> > on the content front. So the next best target to put the kibosh on the
> > whole thing is pull the plug on the guide data. If the machine doesn't
> > know what and when to record... the content issues work themselves out
> > naturally. The MPAA perfers to avoid confrontation.
> Yup. Increasingly, the MPAA seem to view the guide data itself as the
> content. Looking at the current arguments re internet radio:
>
> <snip>
> "Delivering the party line, Warner Music Group Chairman and CEO Edgar
> Bronfman Jr. said, "When I see a device that permits consumers to
> identify the specific tracks they want from a satellite broadcast,
> record them and library them for future use, I call that device an iPod
> and I call the satellite service making that device available a download
> service. What is clear to everyone is that these services no longer
> resemble and will increasingly stray from our collective understanding
> of what constitutes a traditional radio service."
> </snip>
>
> This may permit an interpretation that the *index* (and the service
> providing it) as the issue for them. A device that accesses the stream
> of radio and perhaps with a record button, no problem, but if you can
> set it up to automatically start and stop recording at program
> boundaries and then save those recordings with meaningful names ...
>
> From the (tabled, not law) PERFORM act:
> `reasonable recording' means the making of a phonorecord embodying all
> or part of a performance licensed under this section for private,
> noncommercial use where technological measures used by the transmitting
> entity, and which are incorporated into a recording device (i) permit
> automated recording or playback based on specific programs, time
> periods, or channels as selected by or for the user; (ii) do not permit
> automated recording or playback based on specific sound recordings,
> albums, or artists; (iii) do not permit the separation of component
> segments of the copyrighted material contained in the transmission
> program which results in the playback of a manipulated sequence; and
> (iv) do not permit the redistribution, retransmission or other exporting
> of a phonorecord embodying all or part of a performance licensed under
> this section from the device by digital outputs or removable media,
> unless the destination device is part of a secure in-home network that
> also complies with each of the requirements prescribed in this paragraph.
>
> It seems (ii) is the key bit here.
>
> glen
>
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