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Xiph.Org Foundation
open-in-new
<p>The Xiph.Org Foundation is a <a href="/facts/Nonprofit_organization/AmXu2c85">nonprofit organization</a> that produces <a href="/facts/Free_software/IaoVtJXn">free</a> <a href="/facts/Multimedia/PtJteq27">multimedia</a> formats and software tools. It focuses on the <a href="/facts/Ogg/TBjabnot">Ogg</a> family of formats, the most successful of which has been <a href="/facts/Vorbis/rqJDTF0T">Vorbis</a>, an open and freely licensed audio format and <a href="/facts/Codec/C7b7Am8t">codec</a> designed to compete with the patented <a href="/facts/Windows_Media_Audio/s5zePro7">WMA</a>, <a href="/facts/MP3/yrBpxUSD">MP3</a> and <a href="/facts/Advanced_audio_coding/VAG9NpI4">AAC</a>. As of 2013, development work was focused on <a href="/facts/Daala/0oyPpRJP">Daala</a>, an open and patent-free video format and codec designed to compete with <a href="/facts/VP9/dBP8ffoc">VP9</a> and the patented <a href="/facts/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding/6gp7DC1a">High Efficiency Video Coding</a>. </p><p>In addition to its in-house development work, the foundation has also brought several already-existing but complementary <a href="/facts/Free_software/IaoVtJXn">free software</a> projects under its aegis, most of which have a separate, active group of developers. These include <a href="/facts/Speex/M7xqnPxN">Speex</a>, an audio codec designed for speech, and <a href="/facts/Free_Lossless_Audio_Codec/TbqpHlWy">FLAC</a>, a lossless audio codec. </p><p>The Xiph.Org Foundation has criticized <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a> and the <a href="/facts/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America/8a7K0Ubf">RIAA</a> for their lack of openness. They state that if companies like Microsoft had owned <a href="/facts/Software_patent/wI6RrYh3">patents</a> on the Internet, then other companies would have tried to compete, and "The Net, as designed by warring corporate entities, would be a battleground of incompatible and expensive 'standards' had it actually survived at all." They also criticize the RIAA for their support of projects such as the <a href="/facts/Secure_Digital_Music_Initiative/66J0JkWf">Secure Digital Music Initiative</a>. </p><p>In 2008, the <a href="/facts/Free_Software_Foundation/k0sBmw7y">Free Software Foundation</a> listed the Xiph.Org projects as <a href="/facts/High_Priority_Free_Software_Projects/k0sBmw7y">High Priority Free Software Projects</a>. </p>