[vorbis] Debian mp3->vorbis transcoding

[Greg Wooledge]

Andy (andycool22 at peoplepc.com) wrote:

> if u get the lame mp3 decoder is that free?

It's free software, in that you're allowed to distribute it and modify
it and so forth.  However, it may not be free of patent encumbrances,
depending on what country you're in.

There is also some discussion about whether it's possible, legally, to
distribute a program under the GPL if it's patented in some countries.
One of the sections of the GPL says pretty clearly that this is not
allowed, but what about countries where it's *not* patented?

Anyway, just use Vorbis.  Encode your CDs with Vorbis, and don't bother
downloading or creating any new MP3 files.  If you've already got MP3
files that you can't re-rip into Vorbis, either leave them alone or
delete them.


-- 
Greg Wooledge                  |   "Truth belongs to everybody."
greg at wooledge.org              |    - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
http://wooledge.org/~greg/     |


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