Re: #153467: libjpeg62: JPEG is patent-encumbered

[Richard Braakman <dark@xs4all.nl>]

On Sun, Nov 24, 2002 at 04:23:53PM +0100, Bill Allombert wrote:
> The JPEG commitee has released a press kit about the patend issue, see
> <http://www.jpeg.org/newsrel4.html>.
> 
> Could someone that understand legalese make a summary for further discussion
> about what to do Debian-wise?

It's a bit of a non-statement.  The only part that seems to actually
say anything is this:

   [...] and currently over 20
   organisations, holding many patents in this area, have agreed to allow
   licensed use of their patents and other intellectual property in
   connection with baseline implementations of this standard free of
   license fees or royalty fees.

If "free of license fees or royalty fees" means actually free, then
this shouldn't be a problem.  They don't seem to give specifics anywhere,
though.

Of course, this statement says nothing about patents held by _other_
organizations.  In fact, it goes out of its way to say nothing about
that.  My guess is that the issue is still open.

The first paragraph stresses that the committee has received no
formal notification of a patent claim.  It might be that they have
a strategic reason for wanting Forgent Networks to go through
ISO's official channels.

I think Debian's best strategy is to wait and see some more.

Richard Braakman