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New Delhi. The world’s most popular video player, VLC, is present in almost every computer and mobile. But do you know that if its creator Jean-Baptiste Kempf wanted, he could have earned billions of rupees but he did not do so.
Several big tech companies offered Kempf millions of dollars just to allow him to sell advertising or user data in VLC. But he flatly refused. Kempf said, “We do not want to break the trust of our users.”
How did VLC become so special?
VLC started as a student project (VideoLAN Client) in France in the late 1990s. Its objective was to create a media player that could play any video format without crashing. Today VLC has become the most downloaded media player in the world.
100% free and ad-free
It is open-source and capable of playing any video file.
Mission, not business
Jean-Baptiste Kempf never made VLC a business. He makes money from consulting and his startup, but sees VLC as a mission – software that protects users’ freedom and privacy.
Not for people, not for profits
While most companies are focused on making money from ads and data, Kempf kept VLC clean and reliable. Today VLC is special because it not only plays videos, but it has also become a symbol of honesty in technology.
After starting his career in print media, he has been working as a senior copy editor in News18Hindi for the last 8 years. Has been part of the business news team for almost 4 years. Has experience of about one and a half decade in media. Bijan…read more
After starting his career in print media, he has been working as a senior copy editor in News18Hindi for the last 8 years. Has been part of the business news team for almost 4 years. Has experience of about one and a half decade in media. Bijan… read more
