Status update about ffmpeg, was: ffmpeg into non-free

[Reinhard Tartler]

> Hi all,
> I was wondering if it would be possible to upload the full version of
> ffmpeg into non-free.
> 
> According to debian policy it would seem ok:
> http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#s-non-free
> 
> > Packages must be placed in non-free if they are not compliant with
> > the DFSG or are encumbered by patents or other legal issues that
> > make their distribution problematic.
> 
> What do you think?

At debconf7, Sam and I discussed this issue, and we agreed on this: We
rename the current ffmpeg source package to ffmpeg-free, but keep the
binary package names. We asked James Troup, and he suggested that we
could include a ffmpeg-nonfree package with the mpeg encoders not
stripped of in debian/non-free. (Actually, I'm not sure who originally
proposed this, but anyway).

Well, he wanted to have a discussion among ftp-masters about this issue,
but we still don't really have a response about this. I'd therefore
suggest that we continue with the plan and create an ffmpeg-nonfree
package, from which the ffmpeg-free source package is created. We can
then distribute ffmpeg-nonfree on some non-debian hosts.

A small status update about ffmpeg in debian:

I've uploaded a new ffmpeg snapshot to debian/experimental, dated at the
last release date as mplayer. I managed to refresh all patches but the
large altivec patches. However, looking at the buildlogs, it seems that
ffmpeg built fine on ppc. Due to lack of hardware, I cannot test if the
package actually works.

Sam, how important are the altivec patches? Are you going to upload to
unstable soon?


-- 
Gruesse/greetings,
Reinhard Tartler, KeyID 945348A4