Re: [rtcweb] Cisco to open source its H.264 implementation and absorb MPEG-LA licensing fees

[cowwoc <[e-mail]>]

Cullen,

Could you please respond to Engel Nyst's comment on this thread? He wrote:

"I am concerned about the fake appearances Cisco is giving. The code 
"appears" to be BSD-licensed, and github repository gives no indication 
to well intended people that in reality it's not. Forking the repository 
and building a derivative release *already runs afoul* of MPEG-LA 
restrictions and exposes people to uncertainty and being chased for 
fees, when it's a natural thing to do.
Misleading people that an implementation is open source when it's not is 
an unacceptable action in my book, under any shape or form; and I will 
keep short here as to other practical scenarios and issues that it brings. "

What is Cisco's official position on this?

Thank you,
Gili

On 11/12/2013 2:08 PM, Cullen Jennings (fluffy) wrote:
> I would like to point out that Cisco has published the initial source code for the H.264 codec. You can find it from the source code links at http://www.openh264.org/
>
> There still lots of work going on build, test system, other architectures etc. If you want to read the code and see what is there, feel free to browse. If you are feeling brave and like living on the bleeding edge, go ahead compile it, and try out. Be warned that significant refactoring is happing as this gets moved to support the binary module. The binary module will not be up till early next year.  There is a bit of information about what is supported at https://github.com/cisco/openh264/blob/master/README.md The appropriate mailing list for discussing it is [e-mail] and you can subscribe at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/openh264-dev
>
> There is also a 5 minute video that helps explain the "open source code" and "binary download" and other IPR issues as that seems to cause confusion for folks. You can find it at http://vimeo.com/cullenfluffyjennings/openh264-ipr
>
> Cullen
>
>
>
> On Oct 30, 2013, at 6:28 AM, Jonathan Rosenberg (jdrosen) <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>> I’d like to make an announcement material to the conversations around MTI video codecs in rtcweb.
>>   
>> Cisco is announcing today that we will take our H.264 implementation, and open source it under BSD license terms. Development and maintenance will be overseen by a board from industry and the open source community.  Furthermore, we will provide a binary form suitable for inclusion in applications across a number of different operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux x86, Linux ARM and Android ARM), and make this binary module available for download from the Internet. We will not pass on our MPEG-LA licensing costs for this module, and based on the current licensing environment, this will effectively make H.264 free for use on supported platforms.
>>   
>> We believe that this contribution to the community can help address the concerns many have raised around selection of H.264 as MTI. I firmly believe that with H.264 we can achieve maximal interoperability and now, do it with open source and for free (well, at least for others – its not free for Cisco J)
>> More information on the open source project can be found at http://www.openh264.org, which is sparse now but more coming soon.
>>   
>>   
>> Thx,
>> Jonathan R.
>>   
>> --
>> Jonathan Rosenberg, PhD
>> VP, CTO Collaboration
>> Cisco Systems
>> [e-mail]
>>   
>> _______________________________________________
>> rtcweb mailing list
>> [e-mail]
>> https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/rtcweb
> _______________________________________________
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> [e-mail]
> https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/rtcweb