The H.264 Codec, a Legal Tale of Licensing Terms

We all know how Apple's Steve Jobs constantly promotes HTML5 and the H.264 video codec over flash, but I'll tell you why that's not such a good idea.

1. You have to pay for it. People who make the software that encodes raw video files to the H.264 format have to pay in order to distribute their software. People who also distribute content (for a fee) also have to pay for it.
2. Free content (only until 2015). Per MPEG-LA's licensing terms, people who distribute free content will not have to pay anything. That is, until 2015... when the terms can be changed. There is no better way to hook everyone up on free stuff then make them pay once they're addicted (changing video formats costs considerable time and money)!
3. Blocks free formats. MPEG-LA and its members have successfully blocked Ogg Theora, an open and also free codec, from becoming standard on HTML5. Why would they want people using a free alternative? Regardless, the web browser giant, Mozilla, has decided to support Ogg natively.
4. It's the death of the video art and culture. At least OSNews thinks so.

Via Engadget