H.264 support coming to Firefox

HTML5 was supposed to be different.

As I understand it, Flash is a proprietary program, and as such, it can be worked around. But acknowledging software patents to be a legitimate part of an open web is something different.

>>However, not doing so would have meant that Mozilla would only get used by pureists, and would probably have died by now due to the lack of users.

Mozilla's mission says nothing about keeping Mozilla alive.

It is implied by many that the worst that could happen is that Mozilla would cease to exist, or its influence would wane. But the purpose, in my opinion, of Mozilla, is not Mozilla itself, it's their mission.

>>If you don't have users, it doesn't matter how 'pure' you are, you have no influence.

Users may come and go, but "supporters" (of a free and unencumbered web, for example) usually stick around, because they appreciate the deeper significance of what you're trying to achieve, even if 'success' is not imminent. But if you change/compromise on what you're trying to achieve *and* you fall behind in development (which is not unthinkable given the giants they're up against in the browser arena, especially if one of those giants basically pays for your own development) prompting your normal users to leave, you're left with nothing.