Chromium removes H.264 from the open video path
Summary
The Chromium team explains why the browser wanted to rely on open codecs for the HTML5 video element and end built-in H.264 support. Open interfaces remain incomplete if essential data formats cannot also be used openly. Technically strong standards can create fragmented ecosystems through licensing.
Ideas
- A standardised video element does not yet guarantee a commonly implemented codec.
- Patent and licence terms influence which formats free browsers can ship.
- Browser decisions can shift the media format of entire platforms.
Recommendations
- Assess media formats by quality, hardware support, patents and long-term archiving.
- Offer content in several formats as long as browser support diverges.
References
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