[whatwg] Removal off Ogg technology

[Geoffrey Sneddon]

On 11 Dec 2007, at 15:33, Wilson Michaels wrote:

> In reference to:
> http://html5.org/tools/web-apps-tracker?from=1142&to=1143
>
> I am a retired software developer who is outraged that Ogg
> technology has been removed from HTML5. It must be
> reinstated as a "should" option so that the world is not
> held hostage to proprietary implementations of media
> technologies. Proprietary technologies eventually are used
> to limit inovation and prevent entry of other thechnologies
> that threaten the proprietary company in some way. We don't
> need another MP3 fiasco.

What difference is there between a SHOULD that few, if any, major  
companies implement, and one that doesn't exist? The spec will never  
recommend any format that cannot be freely (as in beer) be implemented  
safely by developers (i.e., without risking being sued). Also, MP3 is  
not a proprietary standard: you can go out and buy a copy of the spec  
if you wish, and pay any patent charges due. You still, as with  
anything invented within the last 20 years (including Ogg/Vorbis/ 
Theora), run the risk of a submarine patents.


--
Geoffrey Sneddon
<http://gsnedders.com/>