Max,
I am not a lawyer, but these are my points of view:
1. UNISYS is a *HUGE* corporation. Don't pick a fight with them.
2. If you patented your code, would you, as a developer, like for someone
to flaunt your patents?
3. An alternative might be for you to provide optional GIF support - if
your clients want GIF, they have to shell the $$$ to UNISYS for it. You
remain neutral.
4. If you disagree with UNISYS's policy, use alternative formats, eg. PNG,
JPG, etc. Be careful that certain TIFF formats also use UNISYS's patented
LZW compression. Market forces *MAY* then dictate whether GIF lives or
dies.
Borderline:
5. If you are going to display the GIF only, then consider using a 3rd
party, already installed software to do it. Eg. call ShellExecute, passing
it the GIF file. Chances are that the browser will display it. Your
software then knows about the file, but doesn't know about the compression,
etc. Note that UNISYS are wanting to charge web servers to use GIF, so this
method may also bring their lawyers knocking on your door.
> or to
> just quietly include it anyway and see if any lawyers come
> knocking.
I would advise against this, see point (1).
Regards,
Dennis.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On
Behalf Of Max Nilson
> I've just got some very nice freeware Delphi code that extends the
> TGraphic support in Delphi to include the various GIF files
> formats (have
> a look at http://www.melander.dk/delphi/gifimage/ if you are
> interested).
> Part and parcel with the GIF format is the incredibly
> convoluted issue of
> the Unisys (and IBM and BT) patents, and the royalty demands
> that go with
> the turf.
>
> After reading various diatribes on the subject I can find no firm
> information on the following questions:
>
> 1. Do the Unisys patents in various countries apply in New Zealand?
>
> 2. Even if the above is true would I be required (under NZ
> law) to obtain
> a licence the just decode and display a GIF encoded image?
>
> 3. Does else in the group work with GIF read or producing
> code and have
> they encountered any problems in this area?
>
> It would be very simple to either ignore GIF support completely, or to
> just quietly include it anyway and see if any lawyers come
> knocking. But
> having some small, fast and elegant Delphi code available makes for a
> great temptation to use it so I had to start asking these questions.
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