Re: DOS 3.3 for 1.40 MB disk, for a system with non-working 80-column code?

["Charlie" <charlied@NOSPAMbboard.com>]

"Jeff Blakeney" <CUTjblakeney@sentex.net> wrote in message
ntvmvu8o98jkbe3380ks3duakt1beas6qt@4ax.com">news:ntvmvu8o98jkbe3380ks3duakt1beas6qt@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 14 Dec 2002 01:01:38 -0500, "Charlie"
> <charlied@NOSPAMbboard.com> wrote:
>
> >It is my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong on this) that the
> >ShrinkIt algorithm is patented and that the company that owns the rights to
it
> >aggressively enforces it's ownership.
>
> This is very true.  The LZW compression algorithm used by NuFX
> archives (those created by ShrinkIt and GSHK) are patented by Unisys.
>
> >There was a discussion about this a while back in this group.  Some people
felt
> >that the patent was due to run out soon.
>
> It is my understanding that the patent expires in 2003 but I'm not
> sure exactly when.

Since this discussion began I have looked on the internet for the patent
information.

I found that the LZW compression algorithm patent was granted in the US on Dec.
10, 1985.  At that time US patents were for 17 years from the date they were
granted.  This would mean that the patent expired four days ago, but....

The patent law was changed ( I believe in the 1990s) in the US to allow patents
for 20 years instead of 17.  I have no idea how this affects patents granted
prior to this change.
In other countries the patents were granted on different dates and for
different lengths of time, further confusing this subject.

Charlie