We'll be in a very different world if VLC couldn't even show that it can play mainstream media in it (check out the screenshots over at https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html)
Showing a screenshot of copyrighted material is just that, showing a screenshot of copyrighted material. Nothing is downloaded, asserted or even evaluated. For all we know, they can have a license for that material (or live in Germany, where ripping your owned DVD disks is legal).
Two vastly different things.
Sorry there isn't a defense here that would stand up to review.
I understand your paranoia when it comes to the MPAA, and certainly there's nothing physically stopping them from becoming a thorn in someone's side. But let's be clear, they would be in the wrong.
Though I find myself wondering whether a screenshot of a .mkv of a copyrighted film is really tactful for a Serious Project aimed at mainstream audience. Chilling effects again. Maybe the user just ripped his own DVD/BR for personal convenience.
Take a look at the VLC homepage. I think VLC is both a serious project and aimed at mainstream audience, but somehow they "got the balls" to use screenshots from Ironman and more.
I agree with your "not succumbing to self-censorship" in general.
This isn't a YouTube video.
What are they going to do?
Get whatever hosting company their with a boat load of bad press?
You can get high-resolution copies of the Big Buck Bunny film and play it locally in the same what.
> What are they going to do?
Obviously this would be a malicious use of DMCA (as it has been with other cases of open source software), but they could:
* Tie them up in long and expensive legal battles, using the system itself to punish them
* Have their repositories DMCA'd
* Contact their service providers and have them revoke their services
I am just suggesting caution.