I find it strange that the EU can find a legal way of behaving n a way that got Microsoft a condemned. Don't use commercially owned protocols or codecs.
Open Standards are criticial for government. Why penalise Microsoft for Monopolistic behaviour on one hand and then support their proprietary format at the expense of the end user?
The OU should be using open formats, so that they can allow access for all. If they use open formats then Windows and Mac are also guaranteed access, as well as Linux, BSD, Solaris and any other systems.
"We cannot support Linux in a legal way."
In my opinion, the only reason for this can be some kind of contract between EU and Microsoft. Does EU support monopoly?
There are highly qualified EU universities and businesses capable of developing extra features if required. Besides saving on licenses, the EU would gain world leadership value in the area of open democratic streaming service knowledge.
Government is supposed to be accountable and Open to ALL, so why use a streaming media that DISCRIMINATES AND EXCLUDES citizens from partaking in it?
OS Agnostic Open standards NOW for the future
It is unacceptable to force the European citizen onto a particular vendor. At least support some other codecs like Real.
Further, the present stream works fine via (in Europe) non-illegal Linux players like mplayer or VLC.
No restrictions should be placed on who and how the stream should be watched as linux is free many less well of use it so should be supported. Restrictions are not right EU should be open to all.
Once again, ignorance rules. I was able to watch the video in the archive with xine. The web site designer needs re-education about how to make site friendly for Free software. This person thinks its illegal to 'support linux'? Please tell the EU about why this is!
Your choice of the WMV format is poor. In this day and age there is no excuse for not using a 100% cross platform streaming format. The days of Microsoft ruling the computer world are coming to an end. Contribute to positive evolution please.
It is very sad, that still they don't know how important to keep and publish all documents (and also video and audio materials) in open , free standard formats. This decision is completly irrational.
Information for all means Open Standards.Especially for a service such as this,you should promote uninhibited access.Very short sighted in my opinion..
I am a European citizen and I pay my taxes. You representing me in this manner is unnacceptable. Open standards is a must for public information services and I demand you adopt them
Linux has a larger base than Mac, it's free and open, so it begs the question why it's deemed necessary to disenfranchise many citizens in this way. That cements the reasons why software patents should be shunned as they will seriously curtail a large swathe of our freedoms.
