Re: Unisys/LZW

[gsplusdiz@aol.com (GSPlusDiz)]

I attended a conference on GEnie about this very subject the other night,
and BOY was there a lot of confusion.  I've recently licensed LZW from
unisys for use in our new IIGS product, Balloon (Basically, GS-ShrinkIt in
an NDA, but I digress).  

Actually Unisys has lately revamped the LZW licensing process, so that
there are only two questions you really need to ask about a product to
determine if it needs a license:

1)  Does it use LZW at all (compression, decompression, or both)?

2)  Are you going to charge money for it?

If you answer 'Yes' to BOTH questions, you need to get a license.  If you
answer 'NO' to either question, you don't.  (Of course, Unisys can change
this policy at any time, and I reserve the right to be dead wrong.  But,
given my dealings with Unisys over the last two years, I believe this to
be an accurate synopsis of the policy.)  Using these questions, ShrinkIt
and GS-ShrinkIt are a-OK to go without a license, while our Balloon
product (which we charge $$ for) requires a license.

Further questions on this matter can and SHOULD be directed to:

Mark T. Starr
Unisys Corporation
P. O. Box 500
Township Line & Union Meetings Rds.
Blue Bell, PA 19424

(I have phone numbers for Mr. Bell, if you NEED them, you can call me here
at GS+ Magazine [1-615-332-2087] and I'll pass them along.)
----
Steven W. Disbrow
Publisher of GS+ Magazine & Addressed For Success & Balloon
Send me your e-mail address & I'll send you info on GS+!