VP3
Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Refimprove On2 TrueMotion VP3 is a (royalty-free) lossy video compression format and video codec. It is an incarnation of the TrueMotion video codec, a series of video codecs developed by On2 Technologies.
There is no formal specification for the VP3 bitstream format beyond the VP3 source code published by On2 Technologies. In 2003, Mike Melanson created an incomplete description of the VP3 bitstream format and decoding process at a higher level than source code, with some help from On2 and the Xiph.Org Foundation.
HistoryEdit
VP3 was originally a proprietary and patented video codec. On2 TrueMotion VP3.1 was introduced in May 2000 followed three months later by the VP3.2 release.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Later that year, On2 announced VP3 plugins for QuickTime and RealPlayer.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> In May 2001, On2 released the beta version of its new VP4 proprietary codec.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name="production">Template:Cite press release</ref> In June 2001, On2 also released a VP3 codec implementation for Microsoft Windows<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> where the encoder was priced at $39.95 for personal use, and $2,995 for limited commercial use.<ref>The Free Library (2001-06-27) VP3 for Windows Now Available for License At On2.com., Retrieved on 2009-08-18</ref> In August 2001, On2 Technologies announced that they would be releasing an open source version of their VP3.2 video compression algorithm.<ref>On2 (2001-08-07) On2 Technologies to Open Source VP3.2 Video Compression Technology Template:Webarchive, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref><ref>CNET News (2001-08-07) On2's video codec to go open-source, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref> In September 2001 they published the source code and open source license for VP3.2 video compression algorithm at www.vp3.com.<ref name="vp32license-archive">Template:Citation</ref><ref name="vp32license-01">Template:Citation</ref><ref>StreamingMedia.com (2001-09-07) On2 Offers Up VP3.2 Source Code Template:Webarchive, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref><ref>On2 (2001-09-07) On2 Technologies Makes Video Compression Technology Available to Open-Source Community Template:Webarchive, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref><ref>Linux.com (2001-09-06) On2 Technologies Open-Sources VP3 video compression code, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref> The VP3.2 Public License 0.1 granted the right to modify the source code only if the resulting larger work continued to support playback of VP3.2 data.<ref name="vp32license-archive" /><ref name="vp32license-01" /><ref>lists.xiph.org (2001-09-09) Vorbis mailing list - VP3.2 video codec open sourced, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref>
Move to free softwareEdit
In September, 2001 it was donated to the public as open source, and On2 irrevocably disclaimed all rights to it, granting a royalty-free license grant for any patent claims it might have over the software and any derivatives,<ref name="theoraspec">Template:Citation</ref> allowing anyone to use any VP3-derived codec for any purpose.<ref name="theora-license">Xiph.org libtheora license (Subversion - Trunk), Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref><ref name="vp32-license">Xiph.org VP32 codec license (Subversion - Trunk), Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref> In March 2002, On2 altered licensing terms required to download the source code for VP3 to LGPL.<ref>The Free Library (2002-03-28) On2 Alters Licensing Terms for VP3; Company Responds to Open Source Community Demands. Template:Webarchive, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref>
TheoraEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In June 2002 On2 donated VP3 to the Xiph.org Foundation under a BSD-like open source license to make VP3 the basis of a new, free (e.g. patent- and royalty-free) video codec, Theora.<ref>On2 (2002-06-24) VP3 Combines with Vorbis to Create First Open-Source Multimedia Platform Template:Webarchive, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref><ref>InternetNews.com (2002-06-24) On2 Throws More Open-Source at MPEG-4, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref>
The free video codec Theora was forked off from the released codebase of VP3.2 and further developed into an independent codec. On2 declared Theora to be the successor in VP3's lineage.Template:Citation needed
Theora developers declared a freeze on the Theora I bitstream format in June 2004, allowing other companies to start implementing encoders and decoders for the format without worrying about the format changing in incompatible ways.<ref name="theora-freeze">Template:Cite mailing list</ref> The Theora I Specification was published in September 2004.<ref name="theoraspec-2004">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Any later changes in the specification are minor updates. A first stable release (version 1.0) of the Theora reference implementation (libtheora) was released in November 2008.<ref>Template:Cite mailing list</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
VP4Edit
VP4 was announced in January 2001.<ref>On2 (2001-01-09) On2 and Equator Enter Into a Formal Licensing Agreement, Retrieved on 2001-01-09</ref> On2 Technologies released the beta version of VP4 on May 21, 2001.<ref name="production" /><ref>On2 (2001-05-18) On2 to Debut VP4 for the Web, Part of New Website Launch Template:Webarchive, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref> In June 2001 On2 Technologies posted the production release of VP4 on its website.<ref name="production" /> VP4 brought an improved encoder for VP3 bitstream format.Template:Citation needed So because of keeping the bitstream format VP4 can't be seen as an individual codec.Template:Citation needed
On July 19, 2001 On2 announced an agreement with RealNetworks to license its VP4 video compression technology, for set-top boxes and other devices. On2 enabled RealPlayer as the exclusive media player for the VP4 codec and the RealSystem iQ architecture became the only streaming media platform capable of delivering the VP4 codec.<ref>On2 (2001-07-19) On2's VP4 Video Compression Technology to Exclusively Support RealNetworks' RealPlayer and RealSystem iQ, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref><ref>StreamingMedia.com (2001-07-19) Exclusive Deal for On2 and Real, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref> The first beta version of a plug-in for RealPlayer was announced in January 2002.<ref>On2 (2002-01-22) On2's VP4 for Real Now Available, Retrieved on 2009-08-16</ref>
Lately AOL licensed VP4 and created the Nullsoft Streaming Video format.Template:Citation needed Now the VP4 codec is limited, but still used by AOL.Template:Citation needed
Later incarnations of this codec are VP5, VP6, VP7, VP8, and VP9.