Foundation (FSF) today launched PlayOGG.org, a campaign to encourage
use of the patent- and license-free standard OGG Vorbis as an
ethically, legally and technically superior audio alternative to the
proprietary MP3 format.
Though the MP3 format has become very common, any time a distributor
sells or gives away music encoded as an MP3, they are responsible for
paying a fee to the owners of the MP3 patents. These patents are also
an issue for developers writing software to work with MP3s. In
contrast, the specification for OGG Vorbis is in the public domain, so
anyone can use the format or write software to use it without being
dependent on a patent holder for permission.
FSF executive director Peter Brown said, "OGG is your safest bet to be
free from patent litigation when using compressed audio. This is
especially true given the recent upswing in patent-based lawsuits. What
is most frightening, and underscores the landmine metaphor often used
to describe software patents, is the recent $1.5B preliminary judgment
against Microsoft. Microsoft thought it had a paid-up nonexclusive
license to practice the patents in MP3. This judgment demonstrates that
there is no good way to protect yourself from these threats. The only
viable solution right now is to switch to OGG, and work for the
abolition of software patents."
With many personal digital music players already providing support for
OGG Vorbis, and with many free software players, encoders and plugins
already available for a variety of operating systems, OGG Vorbis has
the elements needed to surpass MP3 in use. A recent suit filed in Texas
based on the playback of MP3 in personal digital music players should
provide further impetus to the use of OGG Vorbis in these devices.
FSF president and founder Richard Stallman emphasized that the danger
of such patents is not confined to developers or distributors. He
wrote, "[T]he users can get sued too, either as a way of attacking a
developer or just as a way to squeeze money out of them on their own or
to cause mayhem. All software developers and users are vulnerable."
The campaign is aimed at both distributors and listeners. Over the
coming months, it will build on existing OGG promotion efforts by
emphasizing the ethical problems with proprietary formats. Planned
resources include listings of OGG-friendly websites, instructions for
installing and using OGG Vorbis, and a directory of volunteers offering
their technical expertise to sites seeking help in making the switch to
free formats.
The campaign resources and a mailing list to track related events are
available at http://playogg.org. Technical details about the format can
be found at http://xiph.org/vorbis/.
About The Free Software Foundation
The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting
computer users’ right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute
computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as
in freedom) software---particularly the GNU operating system and its
GNU/Linux variants---and free documentation for free software. The FSF
also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of
freedom in the use of software. Its Web site, located at www.fsf.org,
is an important source of information about GNU/Linux. Donations to
support the FSF’s work can be made at http://donate.fsf.org. Its
headquarters are in Boston, MA, USA.
Media Contacts
John Sullivan
Campaigns Manager
Free Software Foundation
617-542-5942×23
johns@fsf.org
Joshua Gay
Campaigns Manager
Free Software Foundation
617-542-5942×19
jgay@fsf.org
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