RE: "Open Web Platform" versus "Web Platform" Re: Netflix HTML5 player in IE 11 on Windows 8.1

piranna@gmail.com wrote
>
> >> 1. Open Source implementations of H.264 are available.
> >
> > Source? Please document this assertion.
> >
> http://www.videolan.org/developers/x264.html
> 

X264 is an encoder that outputs videos using the h.264 codec which *is*
patent encumbered (MPEG LA) - and thus not "Open Source" as others are
defining it. Yes, the encoder might be GPLv2 (*), but the codec itself
(which is also a standard BTW) is *NOT* Open Source.

In the summer of 2010, MPEG LA announced that no royalties will be charged
on freely available Internet Video which uses the H.264 codec for the
duration of MPEG LA's license to the patent. Video that is pay-to-view
either on a per item or a subscription basis however will still require a
license fee: 
"Products and services other than Internet Broadcast AVC Video continue to
be royalty-bearing."
(http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100825006629/en) 

Once again, we have a mix of Open and closed source technologies working
"together" on the Open Web Platform.


JF

(* and not GPLv3 - http://www.videolan.org/developers/x264.html) 

Received on Friday, 28 June 2013 19:44:32 UTC