Author Topic: Linux Media Centre Solution  (Read 2630 times)

KaNeN

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Linux Media Centre Solution
« on: January 25, 2008, 02:27:54 pm »
Hello All,  first post but I've been looking at the forums for a while.  Just a quick question..... Two of us are looking at implementing Home Solutions using LMCE as the platform running across a bespoke range of 15"-17" IP65 compatible screens with built in phones and High Definition cameras, Wireless Tablet PCs to control various aspects of the system whilst "on the move" and Fanless PC's connected straight onto LCD/Plasma TVs which will control every aspect of the house/building ranging from Lights to Burglar Alarm systems.  I just wondered if there are any commercial apects that I need to consider when using this platform or can I pretty much do as I please?

Cheers for your time. ;D

colinjones

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Re: Linux Media Centre Solution
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2008, 02:58:14 pm »
Yes there are commercial aspects. Almost all the code is GPL (or LGPL) so you can do what you want with that including commercialise it. However LMCE is based on a commercial product called Pluto - they put together the whole system as a "black box" managed appliance concept. They wrote huge amounts of the glue and GUI code, to string together lots of other FOSS into an integrated solution. Most of their work they have created (or continued) a (L)GPL licence for, however some of the really proprietary stuff is released under a PPL (Pluto Public Licence) which has many of the same benefits and freedoms of GPL, but is limited around commercial use of those parts of the code.

Generally speaking, you can do whatever you want, as long as you don't attempt to bundle the LMCE software with hardware and sell it as a solution. At that point you need to pay licences fees to Pluto. You can contact them about that stuff...

KaNeN

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Re: Linux Media Centre Solution
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2008, 03:03:40 pm »
Lovely, thanks for your help.