Hi Folks,

There is an active proposal on the Commons Village pump that could significantly change how video uploads are handled, and your input is needed.

🎬 The Proposal: Allow the Upload Wizard to automatically convert MP4 to WebM

Currently, uploading MP4 files to Commons can be a hurdle due to patent restrictions, often requiring uploaders to use third-party tools like video2commons to convert files. The Wiki Med team has developed a new capability that would automatically handle this conversion directly inside the Upload Wizard, making the process much smoother.

There are currently a few different approaches being discussed and voted on:

* Option 1: Auto-conversion – Convert the MP4 to WebM during upload and discard the original patented file.

* Option 2: Direct MP4 Uploads – Allow users to upload MP4s directly, retaining the original file for the future (when patents expire) but transcoding it to WebM or another free format for viewing, similar to how TIFF files are handled.

Whether you are passionate about user experience, concerned about software patents and open formats, or just want an easier way to upload educational videos, the community needs your perspective.

Head over to the proposal, review the technical and legal discussions, and cast your vote!

🔗 Read the proposal and vote here:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Village_pump/Proposals#Allow_the_...

Sincerely,

Butch Bustria