Video for commercial use (AVI/Flash/Theora, etc.)

Hi all,

I am developing a commercial application that will include several video files. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find many options in terms of video formats that allow for legal commercial use.

I was originally planning to use Theora video, which but there has not yet been any extension released for this format. I have been able to get Theora to work using the Directshow extension, but it doesn't work 100% of the time on all computers. As such, I don't think that I can consider Theora until an extension is released.

Common AVI codecs such as DivX and Xvid require an MPEG-4 license, which is too expensive for me to consider.

I cannot find up-to-date information regarding the legality of the WMV format. Does anyone know if it is free for commercial use?

I know that Flash video (FLV format) would be a potential option, but I cannot find a way to get Fusion to play this format in a standalone application. I would rather not have to embed every video into a Flash (SWF) file and then open the SWF file in Fusion.

Are there any options that I am missing? Is anyone aware of what video formats are acceptable for commercial use? Is there a way to get the FLV format to play in a standard application?

Thank in advance for your time and help.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the extension ".ogg" do video, and also is free? *does some research*

EDIT: Yes! It says in the first 2 paragraphs of the wikipedia page. To quote, "Ogg is a free, open standard container format", and "The Ogg container format can multiplex a number of independent streams for audio, video, text (such as subtitles), and metadata."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogg

EDITAGAIN: Though, I have no clue on how to load videos into MMF2 as .ogg (.ogg Sound is easy to get into MMF2, ofcourse, as it is built in)

Ogg Video is Theora :)

Ah.....I should have read more about it. *hands head in shame*

There is an extension in development to play theora video.. well, at least I hope it is still in development :)

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Originally Posted by CBSection31

I cannot find up-to-date information regarding the legality of the WMV format. Does anyone know if it is free for commercial use?

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WMV is fine, I use it all the time. Before I did, I did research on any issues with using it. The only issue arises if you wish to include the WMV codec with the shipped software, you have to pay Microsft something like US$15.00 per title last time I was looking at it, but since Windows has WMV built in, and Windows Media Player will download and install any updated version needed, I've never included the codec with my software, I just ship the software with the movies in WMV format and all works fine.

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Originally Posted by Bruto

There is an extension in development to play theora video.. well, at least I hope it is still in development :)

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I'm concerned that this has fallen through, as there haven't been any updates in several months. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, though!

Paul_Boland - I'm relieved to here this. I would assume that I should use the Directshow extension to play WMV files?

In either case, I really need a ogg theora extension for The Great Work because I need video playback that does not rely on external codecs, and will pay $157 if anyone is up to it.

I would be willing to double that amount, Nifflas, if someone were able to make one.

I might be able to do it, although I am pretty busy at the moment.

...so together we'll pay $314 for ogg theora support then?

I personally want the extension to be open source. The MMF2 community have a problem with extension developers leaving their closed source extensions behind, so that they can not be updated by anyone, and I really want to push for more open source extensions.

Price raised to $400, let's make it round :)

plus I agree it should be open source

I have taken up this project and will keep you guys updated. :)

Outstanding, Stephen. Thank you! I, like the others, agree that open source would be preferable.

Does anyone have any specific requests as to what the extension should contain? All that matters to me would be:

- The ability to open an external Theora video (with audio) with the standard play/stop/pause options in the event editor.

- A video can be opened either by directly choosing a file or via an expression (allowing us to load a file based on the name of a string).

- The ability to detect when a video has reached the end position.

Instead of detecting the end position, it'd make more sense to just allow Current Time and Total Time as expressions, as one could compare them then. This would leave it open for other use too :)

I'm happy as long as it can play an ogg theora file and work with HWA. To me, the simpler and stable the better. Minimal dependencies would be good, the main reason I need a theora extension is dependencyless video playback.

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Originally Posted by Nifflas

I'm happy as long as it can play an ogg theora file and work with HWA. To me, the simpler and stable the better. Minimal dependencies would be good, the main reason I need a theora extension is dependencyless video playback.

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I completely agree. A stable extension containing Play, Pause, Stop and Is video playing, Has video finished is good enough for me.

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Originally Posted by CBSection31

Paul_Boland - I'm relieved to here this. I would assume that I should use the Directshow extension to play WMV files?

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Yes, that's how I work. I create my FMV clips and them use Windows Movie Maker to convert them to WMV format. I then use the DirectShow Object in MMF to play my movies.

Any news on this?