Google's dropping H.264 from Chrome a step backward for openness

Re:Google's dropping H.264 from Chrome a step backward for o... by macrael on Thursday January 13, 2011 @11:06AM (#2100205)

I think I agree with you, but what does Google stand to gain from controlling the video standard that they don't get from h264?

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Re:Google's dropping H.264 from Chrome a step backward for o... by jlouis on Thursday January 13, 2011 @01:42PM (#2100820)

A couple of things:

First, Google is interested in boosting the web indirectly because it puts their technology (adwords) out there in the right place. If you watched most of your video over WebM over the net, it would indirectly benefit Google. They also know that a large part of their power stems from the fact that they do "nice" things for their users, while their customers pay Google to facilitate a link between googles users and googles customers through adwords. Using their market share for the "greater good" is highly valuable to them in the long term.

Second, if you own the WebM format, you could use it to bully the MPEG-LA members individually. MPEG-LA is an alliance with the sole purpose of keeping everyone else out of the alliance. The patent pool in MPEG-LA is a defensive measure - not an offensive one.

None of the things Google does seem to be short-term invested. It rather looks like they are shooting for 5-10 years ahead.

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