🚀 go-pugleaf

I've read that and I've also spoken with their licensing department.  That
page changes almost monthly as rumors float around in the usenet.  I,
personally don't use any freeware programs, and use programs like PhotoShop
and others that are already licensed and the blanket license covers me.
People that use programs like Corel, PaintShopPro or others don't really
have to worry (if you click the link they have on their page).  Based on
what they've told me (unisys), they seem most interested in companies with
deep pockets (i.e. Microsoft, Adobe, Corel) that pump out lots of software
with LZW based compression.  There isn't a lot of FREEWARE that uses LZW
GIF, as most freeware authors don't want to have problems in case Unisys
changes their mind (which they have done a few times in the past couple of
years).  I decided not to include GIF support in a shareware program I'm
working on.  The rediculous fees that they charge PER PROGRAM for a
shareware program makes it not worth it.

In most cases, they aren't going to come after someone who uses GIF files on
their graphics site.  This would be damn near impossible for them to do.
Think about it.  There are millions of sites out there and how would they
determine what software you used to create the graphics and whether it was
covered already or not -- $5000 for a mom and pop site is a little
rediculous.  Heck, if they decided to do this, here are some potential
outcomes:

- Everyone moves to PNG.
- Serveral people band together and decide to challenge them in court over
abuse of their patent rights (this has been done before and has been
successful in a few instances).
- People plead ignorance as most people have no clue what the heck LZW is or
who it impacts GIF files.  Think about all the mom and pop, family and other
types of sites out there -- most wouldn't have a clue what LZW is and
probably use software that they paid for that is covered.  Most probably use
JASC, Corel or Microsoft products anyways so they really don't have to
worry.
- People ride the wave and wait for the patent to expire in a couple of
years.
- People show them the licensed software they are using and say "sorry,
maybe next time"

Unisys is starting to scramble on this issue as their patent is going to
expire in a few years and then they will no longer be able to reap the
royalties from all the companies they currently get them from.  This is an
interesting issue and it's interesting to see others that have an interest
in it.  It's interesting to see how Unisys has changed their stance over the
past few months.  Perhaps we could move this to the LZW forum, rather than
this Creative forum?

Rob

Robert Schlabbach <robert@powerstation.isdn.cs.TU-Berlin.DE> wrote in
message news:7r441v$dp9$1@news.creativelabs.com...
> Rob Miller <rob.miller@x.cnolife.com> wrote in message
> news:7r3a9l$jqs$1@news.creativelabs.com...
> > It isn't true.  Unisys only charges the developers of applications that
> > encode/decode LZW based GIF files (which is most of them).  I know this,
> as
> > I write shareware and have read several of their licensing documents.
>
> Well, Rob, did you know _this_:
>
> http://corp2.unisys.com/LeadStory/lzw-license.html
>
> > the licensing fees are from $2,000 upwards.  Also, in most cases, Unisys
> > doesn't charge fees for freeware software developers.  I wouldn't worry
> > about them coming after you, if you use GIFs on your site.
>
> No, that's apparently _exactly_ when you need a license: When you created
> your gives with a FREEWARE utility for which NO license fee was already
> paid. So instead of going after the freeware developers, they go after the
> people who USE that freeware.
>
> Regards,
> --
> Robert Schlabbach
> e-mail: robert@powerstation.isdn.cs.TU-Berlin.DE
> Technical University of Berlin, Germany
>
>
>