Failing to adopt open standards virtually guarantees that the archived data will not be readable in a few years' time. Do the Council members wish historians to give them a bad name?
Please consider the use of open and platform-independent standards, not only for Linux but also for other corporate environments working with Solaris, Aix, BSD and others like that.
Please use a format that is available on *all* major platforms. There are other players out there than Microsoft. The daanish state radio uses an iTunes based videopodcast format that is eminiently playable on linux and bsd - it can be done.
use a true open standard or force microsoft:
* open wmv specifications
* abandon rights
by the way use VideoLan streaming server: free and multi platform
Discriminating against users of Free Software -- the most democratic form of software -- should be a crime in the democratic world, not the status quo.
If you are a bastion of choice, innovation & freedom, why not support free audio-video codecs? Cut your costs, gain greater control and make your service platform-independent. Sounds like a no-brainer ... oh dear!
It is tremendously unacceptable that the Council of the European Union, or any public service, publishs any information in a propertary format only. At the very least provide an open alternative, or better yet: use open formats only.
This is not about supporting more platforms. This is about switching public information from a format that one company controls and supports, to one that everybody owns and can use.
It would be appreciated if a format that is truly cross platform be made available.
I use Linux wholy and solely for computer use and feel that the current policy favours the status quo.
As several european bodies (notably the city of Munich) utilises Linux, I do not understand the legal restraints which allow you to discriminate against users.
¿Cómo podemos los europeos permanecer subyugados a los imperativos de una empresa norteamericana que la propia Unión tantas veces ha condenado por prácticas monopolísticas?
Why should I be forced to buy American tools to access EU public data ??? Open Standards are not an option for a democratic state in the digital era, they are vital (think of your medical records in few years ...).
It's a democracy breakdonw.
For the same reason, the public television informations in Belgium (www.rtbf.be) are already under control of Microsoft.
Tout cela ressemble à un mauvais film de science-fiction.
You HAVE TO support open standards (Linux, BSD) as I AM paying YOU for your political work. You have to represent MY political opinion. I think that OSS is fine and a monopoly is bad. GOT IT?
With the adoption of the OASIS ODF as Europan Document Standard because of it's "open standard" phase. It is a logical step to also use "open standards" for video/audio streaming to evolve towards a EU of interoperability/compatib ility with an equal concurrential market.
There are certainly legal ways of offering streaming video for Linux. The decision not to offer any of them is a wrong one, and the lie that it is not possible is to be strongly condemned.
With such demeaning and arrogant attitudes to a fair request like this, don't be surprised that european citizens are feeling more and more disappointed with the EU institutions.
The EU should support open formats and not force its citizens to use proprietary systems and formats. Freedom of information is very important for a functioning democracy.
It is a mockery of democracy to require the people to pay money to participate. Only free software is appropriately required to participate in a democracy.
