More about the Chrome HTML Video Codec Change (The Chromium Blog) [LWN.net]

More about the Chrome HTML Video Codec Change (The Chromium Blog)

Posted Jan 15, 2011 13:17 UTC (Sat) by jku (subscriber, #42379)
In reply to: More about the Chrome HTML Video Codec Change (The Chromium Blog) by kepstin
Parent article: More about the Chrome HTML Video Codec Change (The Chromium Blog)

Google and and Mozilla have both stated that they don't consider this (only) a technical problem. Ulterior motives are always a possibility but let's take their word for now, these are quotes from the fine article:

...we genuinely believe that core web technologies need to be open and community developed to enable the same great innovation that has brought the web to where it is today.
To companies like Google, the license fees may not be material, but to the next great video startup and those in emerging markets these fees stifle innovation.

Our choice was to make a decision today and invest in open technology to move the platform forward, or to accept the status quo of a fragmented platform where the pace of innovation may be clouded by the interests of those collecting royalties. Seen in this light, we are choosing to bet on the open web and are confident this decision will spur innovation that benefits users and the industry.

Making a stand like that is not possible by just passing the responsibility to someone else.

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