[mythtv-users] Legality of selling MythTV and its Components?

[Marco Nelissen]

>I am interested in building preconfigured MythTV boxes and then selling 
>them.  I plan on donating a percentage of my profits directly to MythTV 
>development, and will contribute code updates/fixes to MythTV.
>
>I have looked through these archives for information about some legal issues 
>surrounding the retail resale of preconfigured MythTV boxes, but this is all 
>I have found so far:
>
>1) Including DVD ripping software is illegal.
>2) Including DVD playback program is illegal.
>3) Including any ROM images for video games (for MythGame) that are not 
>owned by me is illegal.
>
>Other than these points, are there any other legal issues that I should be 
>aware of when planning on selling preconfigured MythTV boxes?   Can anybody 
>point me to a good reference on this?

I'm afraid DVD decoding, ROM images and guide data are only the tip of the
iceberg.
The problem with mythtv and other software is that it comes without any
warranty. That means that if you sell this software, and somebody comes
after you because they found out later that said software infringes on
their copyrights or patents, YOU will be liable. And you better believe
that myth infringes on some patents. You can't write any software any
more these days without infringing on somebody's patents.
The only solution I see for that is what Dewey mentioned: sell your
expertise rather than boxes with myth loaded on them. Make a business
out of installing myth-based home theatre setups in people's homes.