Libdvdcss based plugin

[Peter Roozemaal]

Hello Joel,

I read your message and have some questions that any lawyer would ask (I
am not one, but talk to them regularly)

> Yesterday was released a plugin for DVPlayer for AmigaOS4.

> DV player is a commercial closed source software on its own (no
> problem with it)
> 
> some weeks ago its author release a SDK to allow other people write
> pluging for its software, again no problem with that...

Who is the author of DVPlayer and what is the license for the SDK?

> Problem is that yesterday was released a plugin, in binary form,
> using GPL LibDVDcss, to allow DVPlayer to play encrypted DVDs.

Who is the author of the plug in? Does he make source code available?
How does he use libdvdcss? Did you contact the copyright owners of
libdvdcss, what is their opinion?

> As DVPlayer is not under a GPL compatible license, is this plugin
> legal ? Plugin sources are not public, but I don't think it would be
> a problem to get them.

Linking with libdvdcss likely brings the plugin under the GPL. The FSF
doesn't like GPL plugins for proprietary software.
(See http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLPluginsInNF )

You can ask for the sources of the plugin; with a GPL license. I
wouldn't advice to sue for the GPL plugin for closed program issue: It
isn't clear cut who will win and a result of a GPL win might be a
retraction of the plugin.

Greetings,
	Peter.

P.S. See a lawyer before doing something stupid like starting a lawsuit.