Free VLC usage in a company?

[natreen]

We are using VLC player for some time in this company now. A few days ago I heard that the mpeg-codecs have to be licensed. Is it possible to delete the mpeg-dlls to have a clean usage again? What files are those specifically? Thanks!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Are you in the US?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

If you want to get rid of MPEG codecs, remove libavcodec_plugin*, libmpeg2_plugin*, libx264_plugin*, libtwolame_plugin*.

That being noted, you don't need any copyright license for our software, other than the one that is shown at installation (and costs nothing). As for patent licenses... software cannot be patented as per EU legislation, so that won't apply.

[natreen]

Could you explain your last sentence please? What does that mean for me as someone using the software/mpeg codec in a german company?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

It probably mean that you can use VLC without issues, since MPEG-LA licences are probably not valid in Germany.

[natreen]

If someone has an official writing on this I would really appreciate that. So far I couldn´t find anything.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

If someone has an official writing on this I would really appreciate that. So far I couldn´t find anything.

Exactly, because noone really knows and there are no rulings in courts yet.

So far, if you don't make a lot of money (read more than a few millions $ ) on the streaming and encoding business, noone will probably annoy you.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

If someone has an official writing on this I would really appreciate that. So far I couldn´t find anything.

Check the EU and German IPR law if you want official writings. Beyond that, only a judge can determine whether any piece of software is legal or illegal.