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From: rms@GNU.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs.help,comp.emacs
Subject: Loading compressed .el's
Message-ID: <9103202037.AA15663@mole.gnu.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 20 Mar 91 20:37:44 GMT
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It's not a good idea for people to introduce further use of compress,
because it's patented, and Unisys wants us to pay for the privilege.

True, they won't come after an individual to demand money.  They won't
even know about you.  However, the more we get in the habit of using
compress, the harder it will be for larger organizations to drop it
when forced otherwise to pay.

We are working on alternative data-compression programs, and so are
other people, but there's no telling when one will be available and
suitable.