The end draws near...

MPlayer is seriously threatened by software patents due to the
numerous patented multimedia techniques. Also threatened
are the many programs built upon MPlayer and the other
free software multimedia players, like
xine,
VLC,
avifile,
gstreamer
and especially FFmpeg, which
provides the framework all of the above players use.

Multimedia is a patent minefield. All important techniques and formats
are covered by broad and trivial patents that are harming progress and
alternative implementations, such as free software multimedia players.

The European commission has just passed its directive
on software patents,
violating

democratic rules and procedures
to the sole benefit of big non-European corporation and Ireland and
to the detriment of small and medium sized businesses (which comprise
99% of the European software industry) and free software.

The European parliament will now be taking the last stand against
software patents in a voting for which an absolute majority is
needed. Such a majority is hard to come by in a parliament with a
low attendance level.

But not all is lost yet as long as you decide it is
time to make a difference and take action. This is our last opportunity
to fend off software patents worldwide, there will be no second chance
for the foreseeable future.

Signing

petitions will not
suffice. Contact your local EU representatives and educate them why
software patents are a bad idea in the first place
and why they must attend that parliament session to
vote against them. Make it clear that they need to stop the
machinations of the EU

council
and reaffirm the power of the EU parliament, the only democratically
elected EU institution.
For in-depth information and starting points to get active visit the
software patent page of the FFII
(Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure) and
NoSoftwarePatents.com.

Wish us luck, we will need it.

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MPlayer homepage while it is
still available.