[Patents] Re: [Patents] GIF/LZW in Europe??

[Nick Fleming marmalade@x-stream.co.uk]

> Can anyone tell me if this LZW patent is registred i Europe?
> I mean, if Europe previus didn't accept software patents,
> then can this patent not be relevant in Europe.

I think LZW is registered, at least in the UK as a 'utility' patent,
but so far I haven't found anything in my searches. Unisys do
not give the patent number on their (U.S.) web page which
I think is wrong. Can somebody ask them for the number please ?

> Another thing. It is legal for anybody to take a patent and
> build a thing at home for privat use only. In that case 
> it should be legal for me to implement LZW and use it
> on my own homepage.

Short Answer : NO ITS NOT ! (probably)

If you use LZW at home for your own 'educational' use, then
there should not be a problem. I wrote a GIF decoder years
ago on an Atari ST just to see how it works. But, once you start
to use the technology for anything, then its a different story.

By using the technology you need a licence.

 The implications of this are staggering, and could mean that
almost everyone with a web page owes Unisys a licence fee.

Some service providers give you free web space providing you
display an advertising banner at the top of the page. I've asked
Unisys to clarify the legal position on who's responsible for
paying the licence - you or the S.P. I'll post their reply here when
I get it.

> The big question is: Is it illegal to distribute source code
> which contains a patented algorithme?

I dont think so. The JPEG library (release 6) contains code for
arithmetic compression, which is disabled by default due to
patent problems. The windows API also contain LZW facilities
but usage of them requires a licence as well. 
If you want to avoid licence fees use JPEG - it compresses better anyway.

I hope that answers your questions.

Nick F.