What's the consensus here on the Google/On2 purchase?

[Holmes Wilson]

Hi all,

Curious what the consensus is on this list about the Google/On2 purchase.

Specifically: when that finally goes through (most people seem to think
it will eventually) do we think that Google will do what On2 did with
VP3 and create another free format?

Do we think they will use it on Youtube?

Anybody think they have another course in mind?

Did they just buy it to get more negotiating power against Adobe or
MPEG-LA, without intending to make a change?

-Holmes

[Holmes Wilson]

On2 is the company that owns the patents to Theora. VP3 is the codec
that they gave out under a perpetual, unconditional, royalty free
license. That codec became Theora.

So, google is trying to buy On2 and some people think they will pull a
similar move, and create a new, higher tech free format.

IDK what On2 and VP3 is, I don't know what you are talking about.

Post by Holmes Wilson
Hi all,
Curious what the consensus is on this list about the Google/On2 purchase.
Specifically: when that finally goes through (most people seem to
think it will eventually) do we think that Google will do what On2 did
with VP3 and create another free format?
Do we think they will use it on Youtube?
Anybody think they have another course in mind?
Did they just buy it to get more negotiating power against Adobe or
MPEG-LA, without intending to make a change?
-Holmes

[sull]

They should maintain the name 'Ogg' for any new 'open' video codec
that they release.
It would help with ongoing efforts to promote open video standards and
getting familiarity with a name that represents this (Ogg).
I think it would be a good tactical and strategical focus for all of
us Ogg supporters to work with Google to leverage the momentum that
Ogg (Xiph.org) has together with the inevitable release of
newer/alternate open video codec tech by On2/Google.

Thoughts?

sull
ogg.ly

On2 is the company that owns the patents to Theora.  VP3 is the codec that
they gave out under a perpetual, unconditional, royalty free license.  That
codec became Theora.
So, google is trying to buy On2 and some people think they will pull a
similar move, and create a new, higher tech free format.

IDK what On2 and VP3 is, I don't know what you are talking about.

Post by Holmes Wilson
Hi all,
Curious what the consensus is on this list about the Google/On2 purchase.
Specifically: when that finally goes through (most people seem to
think it will eventually) do we think that Google will do what On2 did
with VP3 and create another free format?
Do we think they will use it on Youtube?
Anybody think they have another course in mind?
Did they just buy it to get more negotiating power against Adobe or
MPEG-LA, without intending to make a change?
-Holmes

[Dara Adib]

Post by sull
They should maintain the name 'Ogg' for any new 'open' video codec
that they release.

I agree. If Google developed a free format using the Ogg container,
free formats would be more publicized. Google has a tendency to brand
everything they purchase as Google XYZ, though.

IIRC, Google's representative on W3C removed the references to formats
for video in the draft HTML5 video specifications. Is a new free format
going to come out of VP7 that would obsolete Theora and get adopted by
Firefox and Chrome? Despite having Chrome, Google supports Mozilla, so
if Google is developing a codec based on VP7 for use in Chrome, it
would only make sense to be for a free format that Firefox could also
implement.

I'd rather not count on this happening, but I hope if Google does create
a free format+codec, it doesn't come at the expense of Theora going to
waste.

Dara

[Dara Adib]

Some additional thoughts:

On2's latest video codec is VP8, which replaces VP7. From what I've
read, VP8 might provide a better quality-size ratio than H.264.

If we're optimistic, Google would develop a better format+codec
for YouTube, especially with the higher quality "HD" videos around.
Google would release this as a free codec to be included in Firefox.

Of course, Google might just want leverage against MPEG LA's royalties
after 2010.