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