[codec] VP8 has been open sourced

[forart.eu]

Google has released the On2 VP8 video codec as open source (royalty free, BSD-style), while also launching the WebM container format which combines a VP8 video stream with Vorbis audio. Support for WebM has been enabled on YouTube's HTML5 beta, and you can download patches against ffmpeg as well as DirectShow filters for Windows (Gstreamer plugins are labelled as "coming soon").

You can download patches to apply to ffmpeg, and Google has also made DirectShow filters available for Windows users. There's also an introduction to the WebM VP8 codec SDK, and of course you can get your hands on the code.

The WebM blog is now open.

EDIT: More exaustive informations @ Planet Xiph

[kustodian]

It would be awesome to have VP8

[stanley]

VP8 support has been added in MediaCoder 2011-R2.

[Warren]

I believe Microsoft and Apple receive the majority of MPEG LA income.

Quote: "MobileMedia, a recently launched “company” buy r4i card that fits all the traditional characteristics of a “patent troll” or “non-practicing entity” (if you’d prefer). It doesn’t appear to do anything but hold patents, demand licensing fees and sue. So what’s so interesting about this one? Well, it’s a subsidiary of MPEG-LA, cheap r4 card the company that manages some important digital video standards, and manages the patent pools related to them best r4 card — and both companies have the same CEO."

If this info you posted is reliable then this is a very refreshing bit of news...

H.264 is dangerous, if you own a digital camera and use if for work/professionally, not as an individual, you might want to read this opinion...