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

The existence of at least a dozend of projects in the speech coding field
today suggests to me that we have not yet reached the point of technology
progress saturation in this field.  Other that this minor point, I agree.

Stephan

On 11/11/09 12:26 PM, "Koen Vos" <koen.vos@skype.net> wrote:

> 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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> 
> 
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