OggVorbis Is a new open standard audio compression format designed to replace existing proprietary, patented formats. Vorbis is different from existing proprietary formats in that it Is completely free, open and unpatented. Developed as part of the Ogg project, OggVorbis is part of a larger initiative currently being undertaken to create a fully open multimedia system. This workshop will introduce the format, focusing on both technical specifics (compression, encoding/decoding, listening comparisons between competing formats) as well as the philosophical and legal Issues underpinning open media standards and initiatives.