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From: rnf@shumv1.uucp (Rick Fincher)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: ShrinkIt Compression (modified LZW) and legal issues
Keywords: Compression, legal issues, LZW, ShrinkIt
Message-ID: <1989Dec8.020846.24887@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Date: 8 Dec 89 02:08:46 GMT
References: <3980@puff.cs.wisc.edu>
Reply-To: rnf@shumv1.ncsu.edu (Rick Fincher)
Organization: NCSU Computing Center
Lines: 21

In article <3980@puff.cs.wisc.edu> blochowi@rt9.cs.wisc.edu (Jason Blochowiak) writes:
>

>	Dear DDJ,
>	"LZW Data Compression," by Mark Nelson (DDJ, October 1989) is a nice
>exposition on the LZW algorithm. But before your readers decide to use this
>method in any application (except perhaps for purely personal use), they should
>know that the algorithm is patented.

I had always heard that algorithms couldn't be patented!  Code can be copy-
righted but how do you patent a concept?  I know you can patent a machine,
an idea for a device, and processes (chemical and biological for instance).
But if you can patent algorithms who owns 16/4=4?  You are taking a larger
number here and reducing its size and the process is reversible (4*4 = 16),
so you are essentially doing the same thing a compression algorithm is.
I think programs should be protected by copyright, but this stuff is more
in line with trade secrets.  I doubt it will stand up in court if put to
the test.  Any legal types out there with any knowledge of this?

Rick Fincher
rnf@shumv1.ncsu.edu