Once something is unencumbered, there is nothing to stop forking. For example, Mozilla could take VP8, use a new container, evolve the codec, etc. There's the d

Once something is unencumbered, there is nothing to stop forking. For example, Mozilla could take VP8, use a new container, evolve the codec, etc. There's the difference. You try and fork H.264 you get sued. The fundamental freedom in "open" is freedom to fork. Everyone forgets that.