Comment 23 for bug 528910

@David D Lowe:

Well really, the Ubuntu promise from the website is: (Part 4)
"Ubuntu core applications are all free and open source. We want you to use free and open source software, improve it and pass it on"

That's the part that, if any, is most applicable here. And the point is, that while MP3 may be patent encumbered, the songs themselves aren't actually part of Ubuntu's 'Core Applications' - the applications that make up and ship with the default Ubuntu image.

While the store might ship with Ubuntu, the MP3's and MP3 codecs do NOT. They are available from the music and software stores respectively.

Also, while I agree that we should be offered a choice of OGG/FLAC as well as MP3, let's just think about the end-user here, who possibly don't even have an OGG/FLAC compatible device, never mind know what it is. Remember - it's not just for us, it's for everyone else, too.