OT: Media format patents and commercial installations

[David Timms]

Hi all,

I am interested in building FC5 based installations for commercial sale. 
One of the requirements is the capability to play back media of as many 
types as possible (eg using mplayer/xine/vlc). While Fedora core/extras 
can't contain patent encumbered nor non-open source software, in general 
terms is there anything to stop me selling such a box ?

eg. for mpeg2 / 4 playback I could use the various libraries available. 
Does anyone know if other parties have been able to negotiate with the 
patent holders (I guess MPEG) individual licenses for linux machines ? 
Is it hideously expensive ?

Unfortunately, while most media content that I would need to be played 
is made available from outside sources as mpeg2 files or DVDVideo discs 
(non-encrypted), I can definitely see the advantages in the non-patented 
formats eg ogg / ogm. Losing quality in converting to different formats 
wouldn't seem to make sense ?

 From the other viewpoint, is there mature ogg/ogm open-source plugins 
for adobe premiere or wm coders that I could supply to these outside 
content creators (on winOS) and hence have the original media in open 
format to start with ?

I welcome any comments from people who may have dabbled in this area.

Thanks, DaveT.