The Free Software Foundation (FSF) has thrown its support behind Google’s decision to ditch the H.264 codec from its HTML5 video plans. Google, which said the move was intended to strengthen its open standard WebM alternative, has come under fire for hypocrisy because it continues to support other proprietary software, such as Adobe’s Flash. H.264 is supported by both Apple and Microsoft, but requires developers to pay or agree a licence with MPEG LA. FSF said finding an alternative was crucial to improve the way the video tag is used in HTML5.

“This H.264 license is fundamentally incompatible with software freedom," said Brett Smith, an FSF compliance and licence specialist, on the organisation’s blog. "It requires developers to restrict how their software can be used, and to collect royalties in many situations.

“We need a free codec to prevail as the de facto standard with HTML5. WebM can be that codec: Google provides a patent license with the standard that is compatible with free software licenses, and got the development ball rolling by releasing a free implementation," he said.

Other concerns among developers and publisher is that H.264 also has wider software and hardware support, but Smith insisted that just because it was more widely supported didn’t make it the best solution. “Some reaction to Google's move has suggested that it represents a step back for standards on the web, because H.264 is supported by more hardware and software,” he said.

“Those comments represent a fundamental misunderstanding of the vision of the web as free and unencumbered. We can only be free if we reject data formats that are restricted by patents," he added. “We're urging web site operators to distribute videos in the WebM format, and abandon H.264.”