Commercial use of Mencoder & ffmpeg

[sandeepyadav]

I want to make a video editing application in vb by keeping mencoder.exe & ffmpeg.exe in background.I am thinking about to sell my application after bundling mencoder.exe with it.
Is it legal or not?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

AFAIK the GPL doesn't forbid to use the software in commercial applications.
But you will have to make your Source Codes public if they contain any GPLed Code...

[buzzqw]

and you must public link where to donwload the source code of mencoder and ffmpeg

only if your source code use any portion (don't mean total or few lines) of code already released as gpl or your work is based on gpl source code , you must release the code used or modified under glp

BHH

[celtic_druid]

ffmpeg can be lgpl, which would mean that you don't need to release any source code for your app. At the most obj files and minimum source for any modifications to ffmpeg.

GPL as I understand it could mean that if your app won't run without the GPL'd app, then it must also be licensed GPL, even if it contains no GPL code. Not likely if you are just bundling exe's vs. linking against libavcodec/format.

Heaps of closed source commercial apps out there based on libavcodec/format (compiled with GPL) out there though. ConvertXtoDVD for one. Don't think any have released source.

[sandeepyadav]

Ya, We can see Slysoft CloneDVD mobile which is also incorporating mencoder.exe in backend for video conversion.
In the same way I want to use mencoder & ff mpeg by its commandline from my VB program.
I am still confused.Kindly guide me.

[buzzqw]

afaik if you use mencoder/ffmpeg as command line application there is no need to publish your software with gpl

GPL as I understand it could mean that if your app won't run without the GPL'd app

this is true, but you can simply just open the main window and tell that mencoder is needed... and offer to download

BHH