Re: potent patent problems

From: Robert J. Woodhead <trebor_at_animeigo.com>
Date: Tue 23 Jan 2001 12:51:17 -0500

BRAD JENSEN <brad_at_elstore.com> WROTE:
> Anybody know when the Unisys patent on LZW dies? It
> should be soon now. Virtually every web site that uses
> GIF's is violating this patent. Unisys goes after
> people with deep pockets. Theoretically they could go
> after every single advertiser that uses GIF banners.

This is not correct.

IIRC, Unisys only requires licenses of COMMERCIAL
application creators whose applications manipulate
(basically, if it packs or unpacks) gifs. As long as
your gifs are created by an application that is
properly licensed, you can use it to do all the giffing
you might want, and serve them on the web. Your
webserver does not need a license because it is just
transmitting the data, not manipulating it.

If you're doing a freeware project, you can get a
license at little or no cost.

Robert Woodhead, CEO, AnimEigo http://www.animeigo.com/
http://selfpromotion.com/ The Net's only URL registration
SHARESERVICE. A power tool for power webmasters.





Received on Tue Jan 23 2001 - 11:51:17 CST