Legality of Ubuntu OEM installation with proprietary codecs

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Carl_Linnaeus2011-09-27 14:19:22

linux

Carl_Linnaeus, 2011-09-27 14:19:22

Let's say I'm a sole trader selling laptops and other computers in Russia. Some of them come with Windows, some without an operating system (or with FreeDOS). To increase the consumer appeal of these "clean" computers, I want to preinstall the notorious Ubuntu (or even Linux Mint) on them.

And if there is no doubt about the license purity of the basic CD installation of these distributions, then ... in general, is it possible to include proprietary codecs in the OEM installation as well ? After all, not all buyers have the time, skills and even banal access to the Internet, and they want to listen to MP3 immediately after purchase.

For example, there is a special version of Linux Mint for the US and Japan - without built-in codecs for licensing reasons. Is it worth in this sense to equate Russia with these countries and use for commercial purposes exactly the version of the distribution kit without codecs?

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2 answer(s)

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vadiml, 2011-09-27
@vadiml

In the US and Japan, codecs are not included in distributions due to patent restrictions, this does not concern us.

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@antoo, 2011-09-27
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Linux Mint has special OEM distributions designed for you to install all the drivers and give the buyer a ready-to-work computer, which, at the first start, will only offer to create an account, and not look for drivers and so on. Once this is done, I think there will be no problems with the license.
www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=85