RestrictedFormatsSolutions

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Revision 1 as of 2006-02-22 20:06:59
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Editor: 200-42-40-42
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Revision 7 as of 2006-02-23 20:51:03
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Editor: 200-42-40-42
Comment: simosx what you mean is a per-case on-demand assistant (nothing to do here)
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Right now, there are two proposed solutions: Right now, there are three proposed solutions:
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2) Including some kind of '''''post-install wizard''''' with Ubuntu, that asks users if they live in a software-patent-country or not, and then installs all the necessary packages (wether by downloading them or by pulling them from the CD if bundling those files is legal). 2) Including some kind of '''''post-install assistant''''' with Ubuntu, that asks users if they live in a software-patent-country or not, and then installs all the necessary packages (whether by downloading them or by pulling them from the CD if bundling those files is legal).
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(a first draft of this spec can be found in RestrictedFormatsAssistant)


3) Including '''''non-Free software''''' (like RealPlayer), so users from all countries could legally play most multimedia formats.

 *''Pros: better desktop experience for all users.''
 *''Cons: breaks Ubuntu's commitment with Free Software.''

Restricted Multimedia Formats - The Solutions

The problem with restricted multimedia formats has been described in RestrictedFormatsProblem. Since it is a complex issue, any possible solution would imply some kind of compromise.

Right now, there are three proposed solutions:

1) Making two versions of Ubuntu: one for countries with software patents (equal to the Ubuntu we have now), and the other for the rest of the world (with out-of-the-box support for MP3, DVDs, DivX, etc).

  • Pros: better out-of-the-box experience for non-USA users, might raise patent awareness.

  • Cons: doesn't help users from the USA, requires the overhead of maintaining two versions.

2) Including some kind of post-install assistant with Ubuntu, that asks users if they live in a software-patent-country or not, and then installs all the necessary packages (whether by downloading them or by pulling them from the CD if bundling those files is legal).

  • Pros: better desktop experience for all users, might raise patent awareness (slightly).

  • Cons: requires Internet connectivity.

(a first draft of this spec can be found in RestrictedFormatsAssistant)

3) Including non-Free software (like RealPlayer), so users from all countries could legally play most multimedia formats.

  • Pros: better desktop experience for all users.

  • Cons: breaks Ubuntu's commitment with Free Software.

RestrictedFormatsSolutions (last edited 2008-08-06 16:25:52 by localhost)