Replying to my own message, with a WORKING colon key. On Tue, 24 Jul 2001, John Galt wrote:
>On Wed, 25 Jul 2001, Dylan Thurston wrote: > >>I recently came across some data published as a .LZW archive which I >>want to process. It seems that the standard program for dealing with >>the archives, lha, is non-free. I found a web page documenting the >>format; is there any obstruction to producing a free >>compressor/decompressor? Has anyone tried to convince the authors to >>free their program? > > http://www.cpe.surrey.ac.uk/support/faq/gif_lzw.htm > >Probably impossible. lha is under the Sperry patent. The Sperry patent >should sunset RSN: it was granted in 1985, 16 years ago. > > http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/whatis.htm > >shows how long a patent is for--20 years. > >Until 2005, don't bother trying: you'll only be looking at a jail term. > >>And what is the actual copyright on the lha program? The 'copyright' >>file in the package just lists the authors, and the README file is in >>Japanese. There's an old, English readme file giving permission to >>distribute; is that still current? > >Debian needs permission to modify as well. There has been a substantial >non-interest in .LZW decompressors since the Unisys thing in '94, so I >doubt that lha would be put in main even if the copyright license were to >be written by the committee of RMS, Bruce Perens, and ESR themselves >(assuming they could agree on a license and WOULD sanction a LZW >decompressor). As far as the currency of a grant of license, it's current >unless there's a sunset date. > >>Thanks, >> Dylan Thurston >> >> >> > > -- FINE, I take it back: UNfuck you! Who is John Galt? [EMAIL PROTECTED], that's who!