[Wikipedia-l] Re: Theora and video policy...

Thu Jun 24 08:36:25 UTC 2004

On Wed, Jun 23, 2004 at 11:21:21PM +0100, Rowan Collins [IMSoP] wrote:
[...]

My main problem about non-free formats is partly ideological ("gnu world"),
but most importantly practical: to use a format we need _encoders_ and
_decoders_ *generally* available under most platforms. 

"Available but not useable legally" is probably not acceptable, so mp3 is
out of question no matter how popular it is: you either paid the licence for
your encoder [and probably decoder too!] or you're screwed. (Yes, exceptions
may apply but it means that the format is not *generally* available.) Same
problem I guess with RealMedia: I do not remember having an available
(legal, free) un*x encoder around.

I do not think we should PAY anything for using a format when it's not
absolutely necessary. And I do not think we should use a format which makes
contribution impossible for a definitive amount of contributors just because
they do not fit in the exception section of a commercial license.

(I still wonder how many formats have free, available linux *encoders* apart
from Theora. It would make automatic conversion possible, but I have my
strong doubts about their suspected availability. Debating about nonexisting
or nonavailable software is pretty uselss.)

Peter