Free file format

and enhancing the quality of this page A free file format (or libre file format) is an open file format which is not encumbered by any copyrights, patents, trademarks or other restrictions so that anyone may write free software to view or edit files in that format and distribute the files (and the software) without restriction. Users may participate in the development of its specification and optionally create extensions and variations.

Typically, a libre software (reference) implementation is available - a program demonstrating use of the format, proving it is implementable.

Note that being in a free file format is a necessary but not sufficient condition to guarantee the four freedoms of the free knowledge definition.

This page is intended to become a useful educational reference on free file formats and why they are so important for free culture and libre knowledge initiatives like WikiEducator.

Why Libre Knowledge and Free Culture Initiatives Use Free/Open File Formats
WikiEducator's policy is to co-develop and share learning resources which qualify as free cultural works whose definition states: "While non-free formats may sometimes be used for practical reasons, a free format copy must be available for the work to be considered free."

With access to a free format file which is a free cultural work (or libre knowledge resource), educators and learners are free to


 * help themselves: free to read, listen to, watch, or otherwise experience and use the resource (e.g. for learning and teaching);
 * study how the resource works and modify it for their own purposes (e.g. adapt it for personal learning or for a class of learners)
 * to do this generally requires software to edit the file; in the interests of inclusivity, equality and freedom, libre knowledge initiatives direct users to (and encourage the development of) free software for editing the file in an unrestricted free/open format
 * help their neighbours: free to make copies and share them freely with anyone who might benefit
 * help their community: free to adapt and enhance the resource (e.g. localise/translate and recontextualise the resource for the local culture, and share the results
 * With free file formats it is easy for software developers to develop free software editors; there are no software license fees or patent royalties (now or in future) (e.g. for software to modify the media files or for permission to distribute the files).

By sharing resources (for which the above freedoms have been granted) in free file formats, the readers/audience may exercise their freedoms using free software. Educators and learners may participate, access, co-develop and share resources without having to pay for permission (with money and their freedom to help each other to do so).

In a free/libre knowledge society citizens are free of


 * restrictions on use of the resources available and restrictions on being able to adapt and share
 * being controlled by corporations and industries with a vested interest in restricting society and their use of the Internet
 * the threat of patent lawsuits and
 * licensing fees for software required to participate.

Resources
Useful links for educators and learners who might like to help in developing this resource. Please improve this collection.

About

 * Free Formats (Ubuntu)
 * Wikipedia definition

Why

 * Blog posting by Jimmy Wales motivating free software and free file formats on Wikipedia
 * HTML5 and Video Codecs - a blog posting which touches on some of the issues.
 * Software patents (Fedora project)
 * About the Xiph.org Foundation - why they do what they do (to protect the foundations of Internet multimedia from control by private interests)

The following sites promote the use free/open file formats and most outline their rationale:


 * Open Video Alliance
 * PlayOgg Campaign

Freedom to innovate. Community-led innovation. (expand anyone?)

How
Check out how they do it on Wikipedia:

For now, please add links. Ultimately, link to WikiEducator tutorials ....

Viewing
The current situation is not ideal as not all web browsers support free/open formats for various reasons. With respect to video and audio, HTML5 is in a deadlock as the major players cannot (or will not) agree on default formats. So, how can web developers and users best service their needs?


 * Enabling your browser to play free/open format video and audio (Wikipedia media help)
 * Wikimedia Commons: Media Help - Help pages for playing media files on Commons.
 * Wikimedia Commons on converting video
 * Video For Everybody - an approach includes browser-detection and fallback (to a format the browser supports).
 * Java Cortado - a Java applet for streaming media in free file formats. Instructions and demo for Theora.
 * The WebM project, is "an open web media project ... dedicated to developing a high-quality, open video format for the web that is freely available to everyone".
 * How to upload a video to YouTube and ensure it is viewable in WebM
 * News: Google has open sourced VP8. Soon (hopefully, via HTML5 and specifically HTML5 video, users of free software will also be able to watch videos on Youtube (etc.) without needing non-free software or encumbered codecs.
 * YouTube HTML5 Video Player - YouTube now supports WebM (VP8).

Serving
Use a service based on software libre. Examples include:


 * Kaltura claims to the world's first ... - license: GNU Affero General Public License

Embedding on WikiEducator
Experimental templates are available. Examples:


 * EmbedMedia
 * and a few tests.

Encoding

 * Video on the Web (Diving into HTML5)

Editing
Free software video editors:


 * List on Wikipedia
 * Video sub-titling
 * Universal Subtitles.
 * Wikimedia Commons: Software - a selection of programs designed to aid in media (graphics and audio) manipulation.

General
Lists:


 * Wikimedia Commons: project on allowable- file types
 * Free multimedia codecs, containers, and splitters (Wikipedia)

Audio

 * Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) (Wikipedia)
 * Vorbis (Wikipedia)

Video

 * Theora
 * VP8
 * WebM

Unacceptable File Formats
Caveat: the status of file types as being acceptable/unacceptable may change, and any existing list might not be complete. Use the precautionary principle and if in doubt use a file type listed as being acceptable at a reputable site such as the Wikimedia Commons.

In terms of the freedoms associated with the Free Cultural Works definition, file formats not listed on pages such as project on allowable- file types are probably not acceptable.

As yet WikiEducator does not have a general list apart from the one shown when uploading files. Currently (6 Nov 2011) the list includes: png, gif, jpg, jpeg, svg, elp, swf, flv, pdf, odt, odp, ods, mp3, mm, ogg, ogv, oga. The acceptability of the flash formats (swf, flv) is questionable. What matters is that anyone should be able to play the file with free software (and not be required to use non-free software).

A page has been set up (Wikieducator:Managing Uploaded Files) to help manage uploaded files and ensure that they are acceptable.

Etc.
Wikimedia projects such as Wikipedia, Wikiversity and Wikimedia Commons have help pages related to this topic:


 * Wikipedia:
 * Media help on Wikipedia
 * Wikipedia:Creation and usage of media files
 * WikiProject Images and Media
 * Wikimedia Commons:
 * Commons:Video (on Wikimedia Commons)
 * Help on converting video (Wikimedia Commons)
 * File types
 * Wikiversity
 * Help: Media Files

The following also provide related information:


 * Firefogg - video encoding and uploading for Firefox.
 * Document Freedom Day

The principles also apply to protocols and fonts.


 * In essence, a libre format or protocol is one whose specifications are available and which everyone is free to implement in libre software.
 * Libre fonts mentioned and discussed (for example) in contexts of the Open Font Library (defined here) and the Ubuntu Font Family Licensing FAQ.