| Re: gif license [message #27622] |
Tue, 30 October 2001 21:41  |
Dennis Boccippio
Messages: 23
Registered: July 2000
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Junior Member |
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In article <onwv1drj29.fsf@cow.physics.wisc.edu>,
Craig Markwardt <craigmnet@cow.physics.wisc.edu> wrote:
> Dennis Boccippio <djboccip@hotmail.com> writes:
>> Thanks for the info, Michael. Haven't heard back from Unisys yet
>> ourselves but was wondering whether the other shoe would drop or not
>> (sounds like it will). I'm assuming your questionairre responses were
>> of the 'we have no interest in turning a profit off of LZW in IDL'
>> variety?
>>
>> Has anybody successfully gotten a freebie Unisys agreement?
>>
>> - Dennis Boccippio, NASA/MSFC SD-60
>
> One should also be aware that the original patent held by Unisys,
>
> US4558302: High speed data compression and decompression
> apparatus and method
>
> is due to expire in June of 2003. Before one spends a serious amount
> of money on the license, one should also look at the time frame.
>
> Craig
Update: we got hit with the $475 'processing fee' as well (NASA/MSFC
for their 'governmental use' agreement) but no other fees. Restrictions
include no redistribution of software incorporating LZW functionality,
which I read to mean we can't send homegrown IDL code with
READ_GIF/WRITE_GIF functionality to our data users. Debating whether or
not its worth it... the 6/03 expiration info is helpful...
- DJB
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| Re: gif license [message #27734 is a reply to message #27622] |
Thu, 01 November 2001 09:17  |
Stein Vidar Hagfors H[1]
Messages: 56
Registered: February 2000
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Member |
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Dennis Boccippio <djboccip@hotmail.com> writes:
> Update: we got hit with the $475 'processing fee' as well (NASA/MSFC
> for their 'governmental use' agreement) but no other fees.
Shouldn't NASA simply pay up *one time* for the agreement? Sounds like $475
for an agency-wide agreement is not a huge expense. The paperwork involved in
actually getting it done by NASA might cost two orders of magnitude more,
however.
> Restrictions
> include no redistribution of software incorporating LZW functionality,
> which I read to mean we can't send homegrown IDL code with
> READ_GIF/WRITE_GIF functionality to our data users.
Of course you can - you're not sending them the LZW functionality, you're just
sending programs which rely on that functionality. But your users have to pay
the processing fee, or somehow use an IDL version that provides the
READ_GIF/WRITE_GIF routines..
> Debating whether or
> not its worth it... the 6/03 expiration info is helpful...
Isn't it.. Also, if you're a user that should pay no money for the license,
because you're not making money off LZW, I don't think anyone would get far
with an infringement lawsuit (i.e. can they sue you for not paying the
processing fee?). However, I'm not a lawyer.. ;-)
--
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Stein Vidar Hagfors Haugan
ESA SOHO SOC/European Space Agency Science Operations Coordinator for SOHO
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Email: shaugan@esa.nascom.nasa.gov
Mail Code 682.3, Bld. 26, Room G-1, Tel.: 1-301-286-9028/240-354-6066
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA. Fax: 1-301-286-0264
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