Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!know!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!mephisto!rutgers!mcdchg!ddsw1!hammen
From: hammen@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Robert Hammen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Public Archive Format Issues
Message-ID: <1990Sep27.043830.4907@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
Date: 27 Sep 90 04:38:30 GMT
References: <6050@spt.entity.com> <107990003@hpcuhc.HP.COM>
Reply-To: hammen@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Robert Hammen)
Organization: Unemployed Mac Fanatics, Inc.
Lines: 17

>>Has anyone spoke to Aladdin regarding the licensing of the format for Stuffit
>>Deluxe?
>Not me personally, but, yes, others have.   And, also, I think to Bill G. re
>Compactor, too.  

It is interesting to note that CompuServe is undergoing the Great Compression
Debate as well. From what I understand, they've tentatively decided to 
allow any format (StuffIt Deluxe, DiskDoubler, Compacter) to be used for
uploaded files provided a) a PD decompression utility is available, and b)
CompuServe is given either commented source or well-documented file formats,
in case the program authors are unwilling or unable to update their 
software for new machines and new versions of operating systems. Evidently
Bill Goodman (Compacter author) is adamantly opposed to giving out his 
file format (or at least this was stated in one message in the thread. I've
not asked him personally to verify that statement). 

Robert