Bug#678795: task-desktop: Flash support should pull in browser-plugin-lightspark

[Per Olofsson]

2012-06-27 14:20, Petter Reinholdtsen skrev:
>> > Since Debian already includes H.264 support, surely it would be
>> > better if Iceweasel could use it directly instead of relying on a
>> > Flash plugin.
> I am not convinced it is better for Debian to help increase the
> liability of people publishing video on the web, by increasing the
> user base for H.264, given that the cain of taxes listed in
> <URL: http://webmink.com/essays/h-264/ > will affect us all:
> 
>  * Those creating H.264 video need approval from MPEG-LA
>  * Those streaming H.264 video need approval from MPEG-LA
>  * Those creating players for H.264 video need approval from MPEG-LA
> 
> And approval can cost money and require user counting.  Only those
> using the players as individual persons have been granted approval
> from MPEG-LA until at least 2015.
> 
> Supporting H.264 in browsers increases the preassure of those that
> want to avoid the video tax, and I sure hope Debian will not be part
> of that.

This argument assumes that there are valid patents on H.264 held by the
MPEG-LA. According to <http://www.debian.org/legal/patent>, Debian will
not knowingly distribute software encumbered by patents. Since Debian is
distributing H.264 encoders and decoders, that must mean that we are not
aware of any patents. If you are aware of patents on H.264, then you
should probably discuss it with patents at debian.org and not publicly.

In any case, if you don't think Iceweasel should support H.264, then why
support H.264 through a Flash plugin in default installs? Why should
some software in Debian support H.264 but not Iceweasel's <video> tag?
Seems inconsistent to me.

-- 
Pelle