gif copyright laws
Simon & Caroline
I want to use gif images in one of my programs, but I have been told
that I need to purchase a copyright licence from someone so that I can
have the gif images used in my program, all I want to do is to open
them and then use the veiwed gif images path to write some html code,
thats it, I don't want to edit or save the gif file in my program in
any way.
Do I need to get the copyright licence or not.
If so does anyone know where I can get one and how much will it be.
I also understand that if I make my program freeware then I don't have
to apply for one.
Wow that sounds confusing to me but hopefully someone will have an
answer for me please help if you can,
Thank you all in advance
Simon
Caroline & Simon
'have a peaceful journey my friend'
~ ~
[ o o ]
}
\__/
Claudius Proculus
>Hello,
>
>I want to use gif images in one of my programs, but I have been told
>that I need to purchase a copyright licence from someone so that I can
>have the gif images used in my program, all I want to do is to open
>them and then use the veiwed gif images path to write some html code,
>thats it, I don't want to edit or save the gif file in my program in
>any way.
>
>Do I need to get the copyright licence or not.
>If so does anyone know where I can get one and how much will it be.
>
>I also understand that if I make my program freeware then I don't have
>to apply for one.
>
>Wow that sounds confusing to me but hopefully someone will have an
>answer for me please help if you can,
1. If you use an image in your application you need permission from the owner
of the image. If you created the image you are all set.
2. To use GIF in an application you need to pay everyone who owns a patent
that covers your process. This includes Unisys, almost certainly IBM, and
very likely some others.
Both provisions apply to freeware and shareware.
Due to the patent problems, the use of GIF is not practical unless you are a
large corporation with a pack of lawyers. Let me give you an idea of how bad
it is. I have just finished a book in image formats. The publisher contacted
Unisys about including examples of GIF on the CD. The end result was I had to
get rid of all of the GIF examples.
WIth alternatives like PNG out now, there is no reason to use GIF anyway.
John - N8086N
Wise man says "Never use a bank with the initials F. U."
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Rich Webb
Not quite. The provisions of the patent cover the LZW compression
technology used by the GIF format. The software used to manipulate and
create a .gif file would have been licensed with CompuServe, Unisys, et
al. but the image itself should be unencumbered.
So, if you distribute a .gif file *and* use, say, a web browser to view
it then there shouldn't be any issues at all. Other than the ill
feelings many still have concerning software patents, that is.
However, if your app also displays (decompresses) the image then you
probably need to work through the licensing issue. It's possible that
not for profit applications are still not required to pay a licensing
fee or royalties. Start here http://lpf.ai.mit.edu/Patents/Gif/Gif.html
and see what you can find.
--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA
raw...@erols.com
Claudius Proculus
to "view" GIF in *his* application. That would indicate that he wants to
decode the image, rather than simply distribute the image. Therefore, his
application needs to get licensed.
The problem that all GIF users need to be aware is that an LZW implementation
may be covered by multiple patents. Unisys is the best known. However, a
licence from them does not make you square with other patent holders. (I have
this information straight from the a lawyer in the Unisys licensing
department.)
The correct answer concerning GIF is "If you want to use GIF in your
application then you need the advice of a patent attorney." Don't believe what
you read on web sites. There is a lot of bad information out there.
Albert Fowler
program only views the "gif" format. If you are a MS defector you can use
the IE activeX to view the file, that way MS payed for the license, kind
of neat huh!
Albert Fowler
Simon & Caroline wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I want to use gif images in one of my programs, but I have been told
> that I need to purchase a copyright licence from someone so that I can
> have the gif images used in my program, all I want to do is to open
> them and then use the veiwed gif images path to write some html code,
> thats it, I don't want to edit or save the gif file in my program in
> any way.
>
> Do I need to get the copyright licence or not.
> If so does anyone know where I can get one and how much will it be.
>
> I also understand that if I make my program freeware then I don't have
> to apply for one.
>
> Wow that sounds confusing to me but hopefully someone will have an
> answer for me please help if you can,
>
> Thank you all in advance
>
> Simon
>
> Caroline & Simon
>
> voy...@eclipse.co.uk
>
> 'have a peaceful journey my friend'
>
> ~ ~
> [ o o ]
> }
> \__/
--
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Chris Hill
<webm...@codegeneration.com> wrote:
>Go to unisys.com. They want you to license for everything, even if your
>program only views the "gif" format. If you are a MS defector you can use
>the IE activeX to view the file, that way MS payed for the license, kind
>of neat huh!
>Albert Fowler
>
That would be neat if it worked. I don't think you can "inherit" a
gif license from another company. If you develop a product which uses
3rd party software to view a GIF, I believe you are still required to
license from Unisys.
http://corp2.unisys.com/LeadStory/lzwfaq.html
http://www.microsoft.com/DEVONLY/Unisys.htm
Chris Hill
Chri...@aol.com
Claudius Proculus
>On Sat, 06 Mar 1999 08:49:34 -0700, Albert Fowler
><webm...@codegeneration.com> wrote:
>
>>Go to unisys.com. They want you to license for everything, even if your
>>program only views the "gif" format. If you are a MS defector you can use
>>the IE activeX to view the file, that way MS payed for the license, kind
>>of neat huh!
>>Albert Fowler
>>
>
>That would be neat if it worked. I don't think you can "inherit" a
>gif license from another company. If you develop a product which uses
>3rd party software to view a GIF, I believe you are still required to
>license from Unisys.
That's how Unisys would interpret it.
The solution is to use PNG.