On: Apple ProRes codec reverse engineered

[aschwo]

This is a great development for decoding ProRes with non-OSX OSes. What are the legal implications? Will ffmpeg need to pay to license the ProRes codec from Apple? Does Apple even offer a license for the codec?

[throwaway32 → aschwo]

if ffmpeg worried about patents and licensing, they would have stopped development a long time ago.

[dexen → throwaway32]

Your snarky remark can be read both ways:

  - if ffmpeg [developers] were overly scared about even remote risks of being sued, they'd stop.
  - if ffmpeg [developers] wanted to abide by the law, they'd have to stop.

and the second interpretation is quite unfair IMHO.

[throwaway32 → dexen]

I meant it both ways, however the second interpretation is really only true under US law. A lot of parties would want a lot of money to license things, how would they pay?

[johnbatch → aschwo]

Haven't they had this for a while (Post Date: August 28, 2008). http://support.apple.com/downloads/Apple_ProRes_QuickTime_De...

However, it's nice that they have it built into ffmpeg now.

[modfodder → johnbatch]

It's read only for Windows, so Win apps can't write out a prores file. (In reference to Apple's decoder)

[Keyframe → aschwo]

Windows is read only (although clipster somehow manages to write out prores files). There are two licensed products (hardware) that write out prores that I am aware of - ARRI Alexa cameras and AJA ki pro.

[protomyth → aschwo]

The ARRI Alexa records in Apple ProRes 4444 or Apple ProRes 422. I am not sure if they got a license, but they have been doing it a while.