MPEG 4, Windows Media 9 At War

Andy Tai writes "According to this News.com report, backers of MPEG 4 are protesting Microsoft's licensing fee structure for Windows Media 9, which is up to 50% less than MPEG 4's. They accuse Microsoft of blocking the progress to move to an 'open standard' (MPEG 4), posing unfair competition and threatening consumer choice. Of course, what is really needed is a third choice, a totally Free Software media codec solution that's competitive with both Windows Media and MPEG 4."

Comments

Pot, meet kettle.

[Hayzeus]

It's like watching Hitler and Stalin Jello(tm)-Wrestle -- who to root for?

Re:mp3 not going away...

[infront314]

Yeah, and who needs video output anyway?

The jello...

[wiredog]

maybe they'll both drown.

One Robber Baron to Another

[javahacker]

Let me understand this.... Microsoft didn't decide to price fix with the MPEG4 group, which would be an illegal practice, but instead decided to use their marker position to undercut them, which is also probably an illegal practice. This is the complaint?

Re:Free option already available

[supergiovane]

Gzipped txt is another good compressed standard.

Let's make a deal: tell me how do you store videos in OGG format and I'll tell you how I archive all the pr0n I create in gzipped textfiles.

Re:Free Alternative: Vorbis Ogg

[Anonymous Coward]

Ogg Vorbis does audio?

Yes. Are you stupid?

MS Has Seen the Error of It's Ways

[alteran]

Microsoft's spokesman:

"Lowering and removing licensing barriers is not only great for the consumer electronics and software industries, but also offers consumers the benefits of better quality video at smaller file sizes," said Michael Aldridge, lead product manager for Windows Digital Media division at Microsoft.

I don't think I have anything to add to this except a smiley. ;-)

I'd love a free software option....

[DesScorp]

But having to say "gnu/mpeg" all the time would be annoying as hell....