"The story goes that DeCSS, the software which allowed the supposedly-secure DVD (digital versatile disc) to be hacked and its files copied to computer hard drives, was created by Linux enthusiasts because there was no way to play their DVD movies on Linux computers, as their colleagues were able to do in Windows. But, starting early next year, Linux users will have a fully-licensed, legal DVD player for Linux, according to Intervideo."
"After working with graphics card and Linux vendors for the last 8 to 9 months, Intervideo's LinDVD, the platform's first legal software DVD player will soon be available, said Joe Monastiero, the senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Intervideo. However, the product will not initially be available in a retail version, he added."
"According to Monastiero, Intervideo is initially focusing on selling the software to manufacturers of embedded Linux devices, such as home entertainment equipment, rather than to consumers because the "consumer electronics and convergence space is much more interesting" in terms of market size. However, later in the first quarter of 2001, consumers can expect to see a retail version of the software available on Intervideo's Web site for $29.95. Monastiero also said that the company has held discussions with major Linux vendors like Red Hat, SuSe, Caldera Systems, and Corel about bundling the software."
