Include MPlayer in beta?

[William Hooper]

Bryan W. Headley said:
> William Hooper wrote:
>
>> b) MPlayer is saying it is GPL.  If he decides to try to use patents to
>> prevent distribution it is no longer GPL (see mp3 discussions).
>
> Are you saying that patenting something in a product retroactively
> revokes the GPL license for all prior releases?

The *prevent distribution* part is the issue.  I read his comments to mean
that whatever software was to be patented wasn't in there yet.  The mp3
problem comes about because the patent holder wants a license for
commercial use, thereby limiting the distribution.

Granted the mp3 issue (patent holder is not the author) and this issue are
different, but the basic principal is the same.

--
William Hooper