XVID Leader: Despite Code Release, Sigma GPL Problem Still
Isn’t Resolved
“The XVID development team is still considering legal action
against Sigma Designs even though the company issued a press
release Thursday saying it would release the source code for its
MPEG-4 video codec. Although release of the code would correct part
of the GPL violation the XVID team is alleging, Sigma’s press
release doesn’t mention that the code in question came from the
XVID project.“XVID project leader Michael Militzer says the group is getting
legal advice from the Free Software Foundation on what step to take
next. Meanwhile, XVID has suspended all development of its MPEG-4
video codec until the issue is resolved…”
Sigma Designs Apologizes for Copied MPEG-4 Code, But Doesn’t
Credit XVID Yet
” Sigma Designs Inc., accused by the XVID project of pilfering
its video codec and violating the code’s Free Software license, has
issued a statement, saying the copied code was unintentional.“Much of the statement, released late Friday evening, amplifies
a Thursday press release, in which Sigma said it was releasing its
MPEG-4 codec under the GNU General Public License. Ken Lowe,
Sigma’s vice president of business development, says in the
statement that the copied code was the work of one programmer,
working without the knowledge of the company’s management. Lowe
also says Sigma never intended to profit from the MPEG-4
code…”