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From: rms@GNU.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs.help,comp.emacs
Subject: Possible danger in lzh or zip modes
Message-ID: <9104122112.AA13847@mole.gnu.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 12 Apr 91 21:12:53 GMT
References: <NELSON.91Apr12115730@sun.clarkson.edu>
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An Emacs mode to examine zip files probably must do lzw uncompression,
which means that distributing one could get you lawsuit threats from
Unisys.

I don't know what lzh format is; it may have the same problem, or it
may not, depending on what kind of algorithm is needed to work with
those files.

In the long run, the community will be better off if it makes a clean
break and eliminates entirely the use of patented algorithms (unless
we can overturn the patents).

For more information on the problems of software patents, send mail to
league@prep.ai.mit.edu.