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Soleron on 23 April 2009
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CrashMan said:
Soleron said:
CrashMan said:
You can convert them to other formats.

Is it also fair for someone's IP to be freely distributed (and a file format IS IP) simply because other people want to use it on something other than windows?

People have the option NOT to use Windows and therefore you can't use WMV formats natively. Just like if you opt NOT to buy a Wii, you can't (legally) play Super Mario Galaxy.

They have every right to protect their IPs and leverage them to gain market share and make a profit.

1. No you can't, without paying royalties. Tools (like ffmpeg) exist to convert them but are illegal under US law.

2. Yes, but my school (and for example many workplaces) forces me to use WMV and MS Office files and have a computer compatible with them at home. Whereas these places don't require me to have Super Mario Galaxy.

 

 

1.) There are tons of avi to wmv converters out there, pick one up.  If you can't find a free one then buy one if you need it.

2.) That is an issue with your school, not microsoft.  You should take it up with your school, and have them provide you with what you need, or use school resources to create the files you can't use at home.

1) Okay, but it's still illegal to use them without directly or indirectly paying royalties to MS. I'm trying to make the point that through bundling stuff and using closed formats, they are deliberately obstructing competition. Not that it's impossible to circumvent this but for an average user who has no clue they just stick with MS and for people with more experience they rely on one or more Windows-only apps. Not that it's illegal but I think it's a sad state of affairs.

2) Actually it's a legal requirement in the UK that schools use Windows (software must be from authorised suppliers), and a county council requirement that schools use IE according to the IT department. So I can't argue against it. I have repeatedly asked if teachers could make files availble in formats I can read without breaking the law or having compatibility issues (specifically not WMA, WMV, MP3, Office, etc.) but this has been refused. I was banned from the IT system for running programs on my account to read the files I send from home).

@WoW

 

When I can use Linux and still have access to everything I would have if I ran Windows, I will stop being angry about it. I'm not expecting MS to suddenly lose marketshare.