bruce@pixar.com (Bruce Perens) writes: > From: Raul Miller <rdm@test.legislate.com> > > For what it's worth, GIF support is doable with free software, just not > > compressed gifs. [gif supports a variety of compression mechanisms, > > including "none".] > > The patent expires in August. > > Bruce No it doesn't. Here's the patent: http://patents.uspto.gov/cgi-bin/ilink4?INDEX+0+4464650+F Note the date it was granted - Aug. 7, 1984 Add 17 years, and it expires August 7, 2001. Correct me if I'm wrong. (I think they've changed the rules to be 20 years from initial filing date as of 1995 - but this is an older patent) Here's the Unisys position: http://www.unisys.com/LeadStory/lzwfaq.html (no mention of the date) Cheers, - Jim
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