Re: Format of SHK files

[Charles Richmond <richmond@plano.net>]

Jeff Blakeney wrote:
> 
> On 2 Jun 1999 13:41:56 -0500, shack@onyx.southwind.net (Randy
> Shackelford) wrote:
> 
> >In article <375566ba.2225214@news>, Jeff Blakeney <CUTblakeney@home.com> wrote:
> >
> >>>LZW should sound familiar.  It is the compression format of GIF.
> >>
> >>And Unisys owns the patent on the LZW compression method so any
> >>programmer/company that uses it in a piece of software that is to be
> >>sold, needs to pay Unisys a license fee.  However, if the product is
> >>freeware or public domain, there is no fee.
> >>
> >>That's is how I remember it, at least.  I've been wrong before.  :)
> >
> >Yep I heard that story once. I suspect that it's the how come that GS Shrinkit
> >came out as freeware as there was talk originally that it'd cost.
> 
> I probably still have the Unisys press release that went out ages ago
> somewhere in my message archives.  If anyone is interested I could
> check to see if I do and I could e-mail it to anyone who is
> interested.
> 
> However, it would probably be easier to go to http://www.unisys.com
> and check for the info there.  I just did that and found out something
> interesting.  Even freeware needs to get a license from Unisys.  They
> may not charge anything for the license but apparently to legally
> distribute any software you create that uses LZW, you need to get a
> license from Unisys.
> 
> You can read about it at:
> 
>      http://corp2.unisys.com/LeadStory/lzwfaq.html
> 
Yes, I am aware that this is the law...that algorithms are patentable.
But I *object* to the very concept of patenting algorithms!!!!!

Heck, why did someone *not* patent the quicksort algorithm.  Then all
the banks and department stores sorting their customer lists could pay
a royalty!!!   How about just patenting the pencil and paper division
algorithm...then anyone who does long division can pay a fee!!!!

Hell, next they will patent the color *blue* and if you wear a blue
shirt...you can pay a royalty.  Now this royalty must be paid every
*day* that you wear the shirt!!!!

I say it's all as stupid as shit!!!!!   

-- 
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|     Charles and Francis Richmond     <richmond@plano.net>   |
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