VLC removed from Apple Store

Users of iPads have been enjoying the significant advantage of being able to install VLC on their overpriced hardware. November 2010 the developers of VLC sent Apple a notification of copyright infringement because the Apple Store terms of use and DRM is in conflict with the GNU General Public License under which VLC is distributed. (cnet / VLC for iPhone may get pulled from App Store--by the developer - written by a fool)

Earlier this week it was pulled from Apple Store. (PC World / Apple Pulls VLC Player from App Store Due to GPL)

"The GPL gives Apple permission to distribute this software through the App Store. All they would have to do is follow the license's conditions to help keep the software free. Instead, Apple has decided that they prefer to impose Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) and proprietary legal terms on all programs in the App Store."
- Brett Smith, Free Software Federation

An interesting discussion between open source hardliners and... hmmm... open content hardliners have erupted:

"Understandably the man in the street won't give a damn about the great philosophy of freedom behind the GNU license nor the evils of DRM. He will care only that VLC is not available any more and he can't play his videos."
- TorrentFreaks' Enigmax

The move will also generate some mildly entertaining scenes of Apple fanboys crying in choirs. Me? I don't have an iPod but I said it before: any OS sucks without VLC.

Ode to VLC

Oh VLC
Without you any OS sucks

The day I first installed you
I found a friend -
And a friendship that
I pray will never end.

Your interface - so sweet
And so simple -
Kept me going
When other programs were cluttered.

You never ever judged me,
You understood my codec sorrow.
Then you told me it needn't be that way
And gave me the hope of a better tomorrow.

You were always there for me,
I knew I could count on you.
You just played the damn media files
Whether I was on Mac, Windows or Linux.

Your continued development
Is so precious to me,
I hope it grows and flourishes
And lasts unto infinity.

(With just a little inspiration from Ode To My True Friend by Elizabeth Pinard - which just happened to be the top hit when I googled for "ode to".)