That is not really analogous, for it seems that the issue with the DRM is that, according to the letter, it allows no right use of playing a DVD without the license (thus players themselves are required to have them), likewise the patent license for proprietary MM codecs. Which means that even if you have a licensed DVD player that can legally decrypt DVD's, yet the right to use use the multimedia codecs to play it also requires a license. Thus the offer of the ONEPLAY Codec Pack (a complete set of GStreamer plugins made available together with their respective patent licenses and provided by the most important multimedia patent holders) or player. Though their web site indicates they really are not very interested in selling to individual users.
See, now this is the Microsoft style mentality I have a huge problem with. You can pay good money for it but it is NEVER yours to use as you like, it always belongs to them and they dictate how you can or cannot use it even as the “end user”. At some point consumer rights should be recognized and a moral line drawn. It’s like buying a car and having the car manufacturer perpetually dictate who can and who cannot ride in YOUR car.
I’m thinking that because the products capable of this have not been legally opposed and eliminated from the market they have accepted it and hereby legally nullified their own decree. Like with right of ways across private property, if you do not oppose traffic from using it, then legally it becomes a public right away with no recourse just because you neglected and did not act on your own right to oppose it.
“you allowed it you accepted it”.
Anyhow, please let me know if you decide to load the cinnamon and I will get you the paths to all the goodies. :)