Actually they went with "all of the above". All that h264 youtube video, as well as the h264 support in Chrome and Android aren't going anywhere. Google is pla

Actually they went with "all of the above". All that h264 youtube video, as well as the h264 support in Chrome and Android aren't going anywhere. Google is playing for control. Likeliest outcome of VP8 being found infringing is some cross-licensing deal and new patent pool with Google as major stakeholder. They would thus have significant control over the resulting VP8 license costs vs being "just a customer" to the h264 group. Having a compete product thus acts as a powerful check on h264 licensing too. Google is simply trying to ensure that its business isn't held hostage by someone else. Either they win and no-one controls video, or they 'lose' and Google at least gets a hand on the wheel.