Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!ai-lab!zurich.ai.mit.edu!jaffer From: jaffer@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Aubrey Jaffer) Newsgroups: comp.compression Subject: Re: looking for info on image compression Message-ID: Date: 27 Mar 91 05:22:38 GMT References: <5040@ns-mx.uiowa.edu> <5043@ns-mx.uiowa.edu> <1991Mar25.215830.5200@nntp-server.caltech.edu> Sender: news@ai.mit.edu Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab. Lines: 20 In-reply-to: toddpw@nntp-server.caltech.edu's message of 25 Mar 91 21:58:30 GMT >jones@pyrite.cs.uiowa.edu writes: > >>(PS: Does the use of Ziv-Lempel compression for GIF images mean that >>the question of patent rights for the Ziv-Lempel algorithm applies to >>GIF images? It definitely does, assuming GIF format uses LZ compression and the patent is considered valid. Only a lawsuit will determine actual coverage. If the algorithm differs somewhat from LZ you may be safe (but consult a lawyer). Much better would be to distribute replacements for GIF and LZ that are not covered by patents. Software patents pose a severe threat to programming as a profession. If the current trends in software patents continue only lawyers will be qualified to program. If you are concerned about these issues I invite you join the League for Programming Freedom, a group dedicated to bringing back the freedom to write programs. For more information send Internet mail to league@prep.ai.mit.edu.