Forcing people to buy (or pirate) commercial software this way is either very ignorant, stupid, or possibly greedy (bribes?). When there are equal free alternatives.
Monopolistic proprietary entities are quite capable of enforcing their unfair practices with the support of government. There are many alternatives that are platform neutral and completely legal in all countries. If you have been told otherwise, you have been misinformed.
Freedom of speech for people using computers is as important as is freedom of speech in other ways. This issue is a core value on which Europe is based.
Please, claiming that you can only use WMV because you can't "legally" support Linux is just a farce. How is using open standards "legally" supporting Linux?
Please at least be honest about why you're using WMV and removing access to your streaming service to a good chunk of the EU population.
Being unable to legally support Linux is the world on it's head. Wake up and take a look around. Windows isn't the only OS around and definitely WMV isn't the only streaming solution.
I feel it as an unacceptable discrimination of EU citizens if favor of some commercial firm. I ask my self what are the euro-crats doing (with our money) when they even did not know about the Theora streaming format. I hope this will be fixed ASAP.
All EU services should be available to all computer systems, only open standards can accomplish this.
Also Apple support is solely in the hands of MS, which has already discontinued many mac products.
Why can't you support Linux legally?It's pretty sad when the only peaple who can have access to this 'public' information are people who can afford to buy a commercial operating system.
If EU cannot support open standards how it is going to hold it's promises of open decicions? At least use RealPlayer or some other closed streaming media which works on every platform if you cannot use fully open standards.
I just cannot believe that the Council would employ the solution that does not allow the widest possible audience to receive this streaming service. I understand that to provide content accessible to every single one on Earth is virtually impossible, but I cannot accept the fact that European institution does not use solutions open to public.
It sucks when we, Linux users, are not treated equally in this case. We are EU citizens, we have to be equally treated as Windows & Mac users...We will defend our rights!
Como ciudadano europeo ,solicito poder tener acceso de forma libre y gratuita a las imágenes y documentos de la unión europea, incluyendo las transmisiones de sus reuniones y encuentros.
Using a well-established, open standard used on all platforms isn't "supporting Linux," it's choosing to not invest in a single corporation's technology. WMVs are a closed format and you are therefore at the behest of Microsoft for all future ventures, or until you change formats. H264 would do fine, Vorbis video is fringe, but completely legal.
When the EU supports open access networks and opensource software in education its sends a very curious message when they only support a proprietary video format supplied by the only software developer they are currently taking to court for anti-competition. Not smart - lets have an open standard everyone can use!
A governmental service such as this one should always use the "free as in speech" option. If an open source solution to streaming does not exist, the EU should pay to create one.
I do NOT support such a fuss! In particular my dear EU citizens shud remember that Linux is NOT european, it was made on the basis of great American invention, and they should remember that eurowimps are NOT major contributors of OSS community, only to sam nationalistic anti-American wimps like those on this 'petition'!
