What is Digg?6 Comments
- babbling, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4What is Ogg/Vorbis/Theora?
* Ogg is a container file format usually used to hold Vorbis and Theora streams.
* Vorbis and Theora are an audio codec and a video codec, respectively.
The combination of Ogg, Vorbis, and Theora is the way these are most commonly used.
Why use Ogg Vorbis/Theora?
Almost all other file formats and codecs used for multimedia are patent encumbered. This means that players/encoders for them are illegal unless a per-copy fee has been paid to the patent holder. This makes it impossible for Free Software media players to legally play these formats, and reduces the number of choices people have when looking for a media player to play any given format.
Ogg Vorbis/Theora do not have any patents prohibiting their use. Users of Free Software are not excluded from playing them. Anyone is allowed to use them however they want without being sued for patent infringement.
Why are patents on other file formats allowed? Isn't that anti-competitive?
It is anti-competitive, and it shouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, it is allowed in most places except the EU.
Why are government-funded broadcasting corporations allowed to exclude Free Software users?
No one knows. They shouldn't be allowed to. Hopefully we can address this issue. See the campaigns page if you'd like to help. - babbling, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3In case this gets dugg and the server goes down, it would still be important for people to do this, so I'm pasting the page here:
What do I need to do?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/make_complaint_step1.shtml
Go to the BBC complaints page and lodge a complaint, explaining to them why their streaming media formats are not good enough, and tell them that you want Ogg Vorbis/Theora to be supported, instead.
Step 1: We recommend lodging your feedback as "an official complaint". This allows you to take the complaint further if you are not satisfied with the BBC's response.
Step 2: We recommend complaining about the "bbc.co.uk website".
Step 3: We recommend writing a short message making it clear that you do not approve of the BBC's use of patented formats, and that you think the BBC should support Ogg Vorbis/Theora.
Who can participate in this campaign?
Anyone. You do not need to be in the UK.
How long will lodging a complaint take?
Less than 5 minutes.
Will the campaign be successful?
It is very likely that we will be successful. The BBC has indicated in a reply to a complaint that they intend to offer more ways to access their streaming media. Now is the time to send a clear message that we want Ogg Vorbis/Theora.
What next?
We won't just stop after the BBC. Expect to see similar campaigns from GetOgg.org for other popular websites. In the meantime, we encourage you to write to other websites using patented formats asking them to instead support Ogg Vorbis/Theora. We'd also really appreciate it if you could email us (campaigns at getogg.org) to let us know if you participated in this campaign so that we can measure the results.
... and finally, thank you for helping to make the internet fairer. Patented formats like RealVideo and Windows Media Video aim to ensure that only a very limited number of media players will ever be useful. An internet that uses Ogg Vorbis/Theora will be an internet that anyone can enjoy, regardless of what operating system or media player they are using. - jonesin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Sent them a message.
Cheers - Moldarin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I urge everyone to send messages to other content providers as well. Though the BBC would be a mayor victory for open formats!
- Hexcom, on 10/07/2008, -0/+0Hello. I sent BBC a message requesting that they support OGG too:
I believe in OGG, that is why my website supports it. - ojms, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I sent one too, wonder if they'll reply.
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