#FOSS Free Open Source Software Isn't Always Free

[onomatopoeia162003]

what about software i used in college. from Microsoft. it was free. like for example, asp and vb.net

[maw88ify]

If I take a picture of the Mona Lisa did I steal it ? NO , because copying is not theft.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@maw88ify

A. The Mona Lisa is now in the public domain.

B. Taking a picture of a David Hockney has cost people $10k in fines for theft.

C. Continuing to promote illegal activity will get you banned.

[maw88ify]

Copying is not theft. Stealing a thing leaves one less left Copying it makes one thing more; that's what copying's for. Copying is not theft. If I copy yours you have it too One for me and one for you That's what copies can do If I steal your bicycle you have to take the bus, but if I just copy it there's one for each of us! Making more of a thing, that is what we call "copying" Sharing ideas with everyone That's why copying is FUN!

[maw88ify]

Why do all Mac fanboys always talk with their hands ?

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@maw88ify Has been banned for calling me a mac fan boy. And promoting illegal activities, despite numerous warnings.

[ryankoch38]

Okay gotcha now. Thanks for clarifying. Can't wait till you do a video on SOPA

[ryankoch38]

If you buy an android device your paying for patents, correct?

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@ryankoch38 Usually. But you shouldn't have to worry if you bought the device, but if you installed Android on your own laptop you would not have done so.

[BigBobsh2o]

Um so if average Joe home user downloads and uses VLC they still have to legally pay to use the codecs? Or is this just for businesses?

I'm sorry if that comes off as a stupid question but these patents, copyrights, etc make things confusing.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@BigBobsh2o Joe Home user to be legal would have to pay licensing to MPEGLA

[tbybjb]

@BlackwaterOpsDotCom When I contacted MPEGLA they told me the license is required for 'distributing' content only and only if you make a profit from it. As an end user viewing content encoded with their video codec doesn't requried a license. For devices that record content like photo/video cameras, the end user also doesn't need to pay a license. So aren't you just spreading FUD and misinformation. Please correct me if I've understood something wrong.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@tbybjb You misunderstood something. Updated the pricing for MPEG2 Decoding in the description.

[BigBobsh2o]

@BlackwaterOpsDotCom

What if for example you set VLC's codec settings to "use system codecs if available".

Would that make it legal?

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@BigBobsh2o Only if you have legal system codecs for all of those codecs. and only if you are sure it could use them. The Mpeg2 decoder from PowerDVD won't work with VLC, and the h.264 codec from Moonlight won't work with VLC. So Maybe, but unlikely.

[onelineproof]

Companies like samsung pay royalties for Android because they don't wanna go through the hassle of going to court. These intellectual property laws are retarded, and so seems the OP for being so complacent towards the old system.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@onelineproof they pay the royalties because they know they have to, They also pay for he media codecs and other licenses required to operate the phone. It is the price of doing business



[PostiveMindBodySoul]

How about they stop making crap, and I will make music and software myself for free distribution in MY FREE TIME after work. I am sick of them putting such a high value on something you can make in 30 minutes in your basement. I am sorry but they are getting over on people not the people getting over on them, the sad thing is the company's that get patents and copyright notices know very well they are cheating the public to pay more than what the artist is truly worth over a short time or long.

[wooka64]

@PostiveMindBodySoul I agree, you pay all that money to use their products, we don't even own it, so technically the company are like pirates. as long as, I don't sale the product, I should be able to use it in any fashion I want. If I drew a picture and my friend drew a picture just like mine thats not stealing. LOL

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@PostiveMindBodySoul I'm guessing I don't want to hear you sing, nor do I want to run the operating system you wrote. You get what you pay for. If you don't want to pay for Steak, eat the stuff out of the garbage and don't complain when you get sick

[ciaran2303]

Whats the difference between Microsoft and Linux? Microsoft have better lawyers and can afford to patent every trial piece of their software.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@ciaran2303 Linux tends to not do things first. That is after all the idea behind linux, it cloned the functionality of UNIX. It is by design aspiring to copy others.

[PostiveMindBodySoul]

@BlackwaterOpsDotCom I guess I will be looking for the richest neighborhood to pull my scraps, I hear they through away full steaks that haven't touched nothing but trash bag. I am sure you get my point they are getting over paid for there're materials. It just like paying taxes on used items, the tax has already been paid on that item yet, we still pay taxes? WTF I would like to donate blood and every time blood is used through somebody else after I helped them I would like royalties and taxes.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@PostiveMindBodySoul Sales tax. A tax on selling something. Did you buy something? then it doesn't matter if it is used something was sold.

You are just plain wrong.

You are rationalizing illegal behavior because it suits your need. One day you will make something cool and wish you could get paid for it. Or maybe with your attitude you will never make anything people will pay for. In either case people should get paid for their work.

[PostiveMindBodySoul]

@BlackwaterOpsDotCom So we should pay Chinese the same a an American worker? I would assume you wouldn't want to pay 9 dollars for a bar of soap? So maybe we should pay them more and were all fair and there work is being done in vein?

[PaulMrThe]

Pirating is not stealing, Pirating is Pirating.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@PaulMrThe Pirating is worse than stealing, because most people are ashamed they stole, and will brag that they pirated it.

[PaulMrThe]

@BlackwaterOpsDotCom look, with stealing, I take something of yours, and it won't be there when you get back. Heck what we all call pirating isn't even pirating. What we call "pirating" in my opinion is sharing... on a large scale. Kind of like if I bought a DVD and gave it to you, but imagine I bought one DVD and could I could share it to infinitly. Kind of like Jesus with the fishes and bread. No offence if you are not Christian.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@PaulMrThe Come take a job working for me. I'll pay you $100k a week to knit scarves. I'll provide all the materials.

You work for 2 weeks, and I say, Screw that I'm not paying. I give the scarves you made to 10 friends.

How you feeling about that? Did I just steal from you? or did I just share a lot.

[onelineproof]

@BlackwaterOpsDotCom What you did is lie, and there goes your reputation. No one will ever wanna work for you anymore. Anyway, usually when you work for someone, there must be some kind of proof that the employer will pay you...a government protected contract may be one option.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@onelineproof Usually when you are going to use software you are agreeing to pay for it.

The point is if you don't get something you should have it is stealing. or if you want to argue semantics it is at least wrong.

[solidsnakeliquidgas]

Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but did you say that you have to pay to use VLC? I downloaded it from the official website and it was free. Maybe I misunderstood. Could you explain what you meant?

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@solidsnakeliquidgas VLC is "Bring your own license"  You have to pay MPEGLA for the codec usage.

[SmasherVlog]

Do you think you'd be able to make some videos explaining how Wine and Winebottler work so you can run Windows software on Mac and Linux?

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@SmasherVlog No, because I would never do that, VM's but not Wine

[SmasherVlog]

This was a very useful video... you've answered my question on why Microsoft keeps trying to get royalty payments from companies like HTC and Motorola.

[jment34]

There's a documentary called patent absurdity: how software patents broke the system.

[hotbeanful]

open source software is for commies

[itouchhacker241]

If I buy a copy of windows 7, dosent that include windows media player witch has to have all that h.264 bullshit allready paid for, do I legally have to buy another licence to run vlc?

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@itouchhacker241 You need a separate license for VLC in 99% of cases. If you just play MP3 files you don't, if you play DVDs it is a little Grey. If you play AVC/Blu-Ray Streams for sure you need a license. But I'm not a lawyer so don't hold me to that.

[ZillaMab]

VLC says you don't: "Neither French law nor European conventions recognize software as patentable (see French section below).

Therefore, software patents licenses do not apply on VideoLAN software." - From the VideoLAN don't how that translates to the US since VideoLAN is French software.

[BlackwaterOpsDotCom]

@ZillaMab If you use something in the US it has to be legal here. But the EU and France do recognize software patents. Do you think Microsoft would sell windows in a country where you could pirate it all you want?

The analogy I would make for VLC's argument is easy however. Many drugs are legal in the Netherlands, but you can't bring them back on your trip from there.

[TechWilling]

Other tech channels tell me what I ask to know. You, Brandon, tell me things I do not know to ask. That is my favorite part about this channel.

[solidsnakeliquidgas]

@TechWilling Very true!

[chronofusion]

as always Brandon .. VERY imformative videos/explanations of tech related things.  Kudos

[Knuxsega]

@chronofusion Agreed.