On Mon, 5 Feb 2001 10:23:21 -0500 (EST), Steve <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Sun, 4 Feb 2001, Samuel W. Heywood wrote:
>> On Sun, 4 Feb 2001 15:11:14 -0500 (EST), Steve <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> > but png is philosophically more acceptable to
>> > me because anyone at all may create a png graphic, while gifs are
>> > only legally able to be created by license.
>> I also have heard that gifs may be created legally only by license.
>> If that were so, then why are there so many publicly available freeware
>> programs out there that are capable of producing gifs?
> First of all, the logic of that question is kind of like,
> "If a 55mph speed limit exists, then why are so many people driving
> faster than that?" ;-)
No, the logic of that question is kind of like:
"If it is against the law to permit a witch to live then why do we no
longer have have witch trials?" The answer of course is that laws
prohibiting the practice of witchcraft would not in these modern times
likely to be considered valid by the courts.
> Aside from that though...
> Compuserve allowed gifs to be used for a long time without
> requiring registration or license fees. This isn't the same thing
> as "without license" or "free." IE requires no fees, but every time
> you install it, you must agree to the license provisions.
> The situation now, as I understand it, is that any program which
> incorporated gif while the format was allowed to be used at no cost
> is grandfathered-in to the provisions extant at that time.
> AFAIK, It's only new programs wishing to include gif capability
> which must now pay the licensing fee... and I imagine also old
> programs wishing to upgrade.
If that is indeed the point being made by those claiming the authority to
require the licensing of gifs, then there might be some validity to their
claim. Perhaps their claims might be on shaky grounds. I don't know.
This one would be an interesting case to argue before the courts. Thanks
for having enlightened me with some interesting history and background on
this matter.
Sam
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