Free Software Foundation's Open Letter to Adobe Systems - HTML5 vs. Flash

With the introduction of HTML5 and its implementation in all major web browsers, it becomes clear that Adobe is currently in a position in which the lack of innovation on the part of the company can lead not only to loss of profits for it, but also to the possible rejection of outdated Adobe Flash product and from each product and service that currently supports this technology.

Properly implemented HTML5 technology handles video in the same way as it processes images, and from a pragmatic point of view, the achievements of HTML5 technology call for its use as ubiquitous as HTML, due to the openness of this technology.

Regardless of server load and Internet speed, with HTML5, users can now easily create successful web services, such as YouTube or just video hosting, which are encoded in the free Ogg Theora video format with Vorbis audio (for example, Mozilla Firefox will play video , Google Chrome, as well as Opera) or the proprietary H.264 video format with its own ACC audio format (for example, the video will play in Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and probably soon in Internet Explorer).
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Adobe cannot count on using their proprietary software to compete with free and free software in the age of new technologies, because users expect the ease of using an HTML editor to create a product or a web service they want to implement. .

Adobe Flash still dominates online video, web games, and other web services. But soon Adobe will lose in the online video industry. And then in other services, such as web games, because the new HTML5 technologies allow you to use fast JavaScript, Canvas, WebGL and vector graphics, and they are increasingly being introduced and used. Adobe will lose influence in this area.

Adobe can no longer compete, Adobe can only cooperate. And it is beautiful.

Adobe will be able to continue to dominate in all these areas if the Adobe Flash plugin is released as free software, and also if Adobe makes its Flash software development software free.

Here are just a few of the problems with web browsers that Adobe Flash developers and users have noted:

1. Performance.
2. Stability. Due to poor implementation in some browsers.
3. The need to download the plugin and update it.
4. Platform Compatibility There are long-standing bugs in the GNU / Linux version.
5. The need for expensive proprietary software for developing Flash content.

To solve all these problems, it is just necessary that Flash becomes part of the browser. Google Chrome is currently implementing this approach, but this approach is not acceptable for Mozilla, since Adobe Flash is proprietary software. Thus, although Adobe can get 5.13% Chrome, Adobe will not be able to get about 25% Mozilla.

Adobe has a choice - to make their software free or to lose profits and share in the HTML5 market by successfully transferring their share of the profits to Mozilla, Google, Apple and Microsoft. And this is your choice, Adobe.