Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!samsung!munnari.oz.au!metro!ipso!fawlty!johnmac
From: johnmac@fawlty.towers.oz (John MacLean)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: //gs graphics/music
Message-ID: <532@fawlty.towers.oz>
Date: 27 Nov 90 21:04:11 GMT
References: <179@generic.UUCP> <1990Nov20.042109.23588@scion.CS.ORST.EDU>
Reply-To: johnmac@fawlty.ips.oz (John MacLean)
Organization: Tower Technology, Lane Cove, NSW, Australia
Lines: 31

In article <1990Nov20.042109.23588@scion.CS.ORST.EDU> parkern@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (Neil Parker) writes:
>In article <179@generic.UUCP> taob@pnet91.cts.com (Brian Tao) writes:
>>    If that's the case, I wonder if Apple will integrate some sort of built-in
>>GIF encoder/decoder for QuickDraw II and the Misc. Tool Set.  Then we would be
>>able to load in GIF's directly to any paint program.
>
>Sure, it would be handy...a routine to do LZW compression (the kind used by
>GIFs) would be useful for a lot of stuff, not just GIFs.  However, I
>wouldn't advise holding your breath in anticipation...
>Neil Parker                 No cute ASCII art...no cute quote...no cute

Unfortunately, it appears there is some legal question over the rights of
any implementation of LZW and thus every GIF en/decoder.
There is a patent on the LZW algorithm, and the holders are getting more
agressive.
I assume this is why Super Convert (The commercial version of SHRConvert)
does not have GIF support, and GIF support in TGE Library Disk #1 may yet
be removed.

Please don't start any post wars about patenting algorithms.
The fact is you can get a patent on an algorithm.

If anyone KNOWS what this means to PD/Freeware implementations of LZW
(such as all our favourite GIF decoders and Shrinkit), please pass this on.

John MacLean.
-- 
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