Include MPlayer in beta?

[Michael Knepher]

On Wed, 2003-09-17 at 10:20, Bryan W. Headley wrote:
> William Hooper wrote:
> 
> > b) MPlayer is saying it is GPL.  If he decides to try to use patents to
> > prevent distribution it is no longer GPL (see mp3 discussions).
> 
> Are you saying that patenting something in a product retroactively 
> revokes the GPL license for all prior releases?

If the patent covers code/functionality in the prior releases, and the
patent holder does not grant a license of the patent under
GPL-compatible terms, then I would think that the prior releases would
be in a difficult position, GPL-wise. It could probably be argued in a
court of law, however, that the license holder's prior distribution of
the patented code/functionality with no encumbrances constituted a de
facto license.