WebM / VP8 codec from Google

[lundman]

http://www.webmproject.org/

So Google has been true to their word and released VP8 licensing 'free'. I think it would be nice to support it, so I am hoping Sigma will add the codec to their capabilities. If not, we'll have to find another way around..

[NodNarb012]

It might be best to let things pan out with that first. According to one x264 developer, WebM/VP8 decodes video slowly, is buggy, and copies H.264 closely enough to pretty much guarantee patent issues.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/..._mess.html

And here's the original post from the x264 developer: http://x264dev.multimedia.cx/?p=377

[lundman]

Yeah I read the whole thing. But also check the supporters http://www.webmproject.org/about/supporters/ which makes me think/hope that it will be forced/popular anyway.


Will you pay, or Syabas, for the H264 license when it kicks in?

[tux99]

Why should anyone outside the US care about US patents? I certainly don't since they don't apply to me.

[halfelite]

^^ whos to say your country would not also get a patent for it.

[tux99]

(05-20-2010 05:01 AM)halfelite Wrote:  ^^ whos to say your country would not also get a patent for it.

The different patent laws that exclude software patents in most countries outside the US.

[halfelite]

(05-20-2010 05:12 AM)tux99 Wrote:  The different patent laws that exclude software patents in most countries outside the US.

Which countries totally excludes software. looks like most big ones participate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patent

[tux99]

(05-20-2010 05:20 AM)halfelite Wrote:  Which countries totally excludes software. looks like most big ones participate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patent

It's not about totally excluding them, it's just that in Europe for example the burden of proving that a software algorithm merits a patent is very high, unlike in the US where the patent office does next to checks. For that reason most companies don't even bother to apply for a patent in Europe for something that they got patented in the US.

I don't know if h.264 is covered by patents in the EU (and/or Switzerland), but I would be interested to know.

[lundman]

if sigma cares about licenses and have to either pay lots, or take out, h264 - then do you care?

[larsmjo]

Here is my vote for the VP8 codec.