“Almost three years after Google released its WebM video encoding technology as a ‘free’ and open alternative to the existing H.264 backed by Apple and others, it has admitted its position was wrong and that it would pay to license the patents WebM infringes,” Daniel Eran Dilger reports for AppleInsider.
“After years of legal maneuvering, Google has now agreed to license the H.264 patents that WebM infringes,” Dilger reports. “‘This is a significant milestone in Google’s efforts to establish VP8 as a widely-deployed web video format,’ said Allen Lo, Google’s deputy general counsel for patents in a press release. ‘We appreciate MPEG LA’s cooperation in making this happen.'”
Dilger reports, “However, WebM faces serious other problems apart from its patent infringement. The legal quandary Google erected by failing to properly license MPEG’s technology from the start means that it hasn’t seen any significant traction from third parties, preventing any of these issues (including a lack of hardware decoder support) from actually being addressed over the past three years. ”
Much more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Steve” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Google’s WebM (VP8) allegedly infringes the rights of at least 12 patent holders – July 29, 2011
MPEG LA goes gunning for Google, announces call for patents essential to VP8 video codec – February 11, 2011
Along with Apple, Microsoft fully backs H.264, unlike Google – February 2, 2011
Google intent on derailing HTML5 H.264 video with WebM browser plugins for Safari, IE – January 15, 2011
Google pulls support for H.264 video out of Chrome web browser – January 11, 2011
Google’s VP8/WebM may face patent fight as Apple-backed MPEG-LA considers patent pool – May 21, 2010
Apple may be planning to sue Google over WebM video project, VP8 codec – May 20, 2010
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