Re: [codec] Royalty Free codec standards -- don't settle for less

1. Technological progress saturates.
2. Patents expire.
Therefore, the performance advantage of royalty-bearing standards  
diminishes with time, and high-quality, royalty-free standards are  
unavoidable. I'm convinced that today we have reached this point of  
commoditization for audio and speech coding technology.

koen.

Quoting Rob Glidden:
> Here is my view, perhaps you share it, perhaps you don't.
>
> What the world needs now is royalty-free, standardized codecs.  This  
> is critical to the future of the Web, and the progress the Internet  
> has brought to the world, and will bring to the world.
>
> Video, audio, transport, the whole thing.  Evaluated, vetted for  
> patents. Under an appropriate, responsible and complete royalty free  
> process.  No less.
>
> IETF, ITU, and ISO/MPEG should all get going on this important  
> activity -- after all why shouldn't all of these organizations  
> include this as core to their mission.
>
> I have, and no doubt you have too, seen countless explanations why  
> this should not, could not, will not, rather not, might not, or can  
> not happen.  Some well meaning and sincere, some from vested  
> interests.  There are too many "powerful" interests against it.   
> "Important" commercial interests are ambivalent.  It is too hard  
> "legally" or "politically" or "technically".  It is just too  
> confusing to think through.  There is no longer a critical mass that  
> cares enough about keeping the future of the Open Internet open and  
> royalty free.  The well meaning are ignorant, or naive.  Etc.
>
> Don't settle.  Take the issue of royalty free, standardized codecs  
> all the way to the top of these organizations. Do what it takes.  If  
> it requires new organizations, start them. It it requires revised  
> processes, revise them. This is the spirit that built the Web and  
> the Internet, this is the spirit that is its lifeblood, and this is  
> the spirit that needs to be at the heart of its future.
>
> Don't settle.  Don't let those who have tried hard already, or have  
> only half-heartedly tried, justify the status quo or their  
> half-heartedness.  Encourage them to focus on how to take the next  
> steps.  Don't let convenient "interpretations" of standards  
> processes be an excuse for never starting, never finishing, or never  
> setting up processes that will work.  Need more legal background?   
> Find it. More technical information? Get it.
>
> Don't settle.  The world has plenty of patent-encumbered media  
> standards, plenty of proprietary solutions, and plenty of standards  
> in other domains that have figured out how to deliver royalty free.   
> But the world does not have enough royalty-free codec standards, so  
> this is the task that needs to be addressed.
>
> Rob
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