Related link: http://www.xiph.org/ogg/flac.html
At first, the Xiph Foundation brought us Ogg/Vorbis, the patent free, higher quality and higher compression ratio alternative to MP3. Later on, the Speex and Theora codecs (for speech and video, respectively) were added to the offering, and now FLAC the Free Lossless Audio Codec is the latest codec to join the foundation.
Unlike the general audio codec Vorbis, FLAC is lossless to make even the most serious audiophiles happy. However, lossless compression comes at a price -- FLAC's compression ratios are around 50%, which is much lower than Vorbis' typical compression ratio.
I have to applaud the efforts of the Xiph foundation and all the contributing hackers and testers who make it all happen. The Xiph Foundation is a perfect example of how the Open Source world can band together to take on large multinational companies. In todays perilous environment of patents and draconian license agreements the work of the Xiph foundation stands out. All of their projects are patent free, which is an amazing feat considering that the field of compression is littered with patents.
And even if their codecs are not completely patent free, such as portions of the Theora codec, they have stepped up to the plate to ensure that the community can use it freely. The Theora FAQ states:
If you think that the Xiph Foundation is doing a good job, please head over to their donation page and let your appreciatin be known!
What are some of the other great unsung open source foundations out there?
A: Yes, some portions of the vp3 codec are covered by patents. However, the Xiph.org Foundation has negotiated an irrevocable free license to the vp3 codec for any purpose imaginable on behalf of the public. It is legal to use vp3 in any way you see fit (unless, of course, you're doing something illegal with it in your particular jurisdiction). You are free to download vp3, use it free of charge, implement it in a for-sale product, implement it in a free product, make changes to the source and distribute those changes, or print the source code out and wallpaper your spare room with it.
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