Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 14th Mar 2012 19:37 UTC
Internet & Networking Ever since it became clear that Google was not going to push WebM as hard as they should have, the day would come that Mozilla would be forced to abandon its ideals because the large technology companies don't care about an open, unencumbered web. No decision has been made just yet, but Mozilla is taking its first strides to adding support for the native H.264 codecs installed on users' mobile systems. See it as a thank you to Mozilla for all they've done for the web.
Thread beginning with comment 510690
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Ridiculous hyperbole
by Tony Swash on Thu 15th Mar 2012 10:59 UTC
Tony Swash
Member since:
2009-08-22

We're seeing the technology industry ruined by Apple, Microsoft, and others using their unethical software patents to stifle competition, but you know what, let's inject another patent-encumbered, non-free technology into the web.


I don't want to offend but that is a lot of historical nonsense. In what way has the technology industry been 'ruined'? Give me some actual real world examples of how any major development in the technology field has been 'ruined' by anything to do with patents? A single example of how consumers have even been significantly inconvenienced let alone had their use of technology 'ruined'.

As for the silly fears and anxieties being whipped up about H264 I repeat the same questions - how has the patent status of H264 impacted in the real world to the detriment of anyone? The use of H264 is delivered via a FRAND framework which should ensure fairness and access and a level playing field for all wishing to use it. I say 'should' because Samsung and Motorola (supported by Google) have been trying their best to undermine and destroy the FRAND system all for short term legal advantage. Now that's a real and not imagined threat that could 'ruin' the technology industry.

Speaking of Google I noticed that in your whole article you only mention it once and fail to highlight that once again having touted itself as the champion of all things open Google has again said one thing and done another. How much longer can the empty piffle that Google spouts about being 'open' continue to hypnotise the very people that should be holding Google to account?

Reply Score: -2

RE: Ridiculous hyperbole
by Zer0C001 on Fri 16th Mar 2012 08:38 in reply to "Ridiculous hyperbole"
Zer0C001 Member since:
2011-12-22

A single example of how consumers have even been significantly inconvenienced let alone had their use of technology 'ruined'.


Samsung Galaxy products banned in Germany ?
Patent lawsuits from Apple about a photo viewing app ?
I think it was microsoft had a lawsuit against android device makers for stuff in the linux kernel...
SCO lawsuits against Linux distributions ?
Need i go on ?

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE[2]: Ridiculous hyperbole
by MOS6510 on Fri 16th Mar 2012 13:07 in reply to "RE: Ridiculous hyperbole"
MOS6510 Member since:
2011-05-12

Banning Samsung Galaxy products prevents customers from buying and then using them. To me that seems like a very good thing for customers as they're pretty horrible products.

Reply Parent Score: 1