[OT] Re: Geoworks and their patent

[Len Bullard]

Vilya Harvey wrote:
> 
> An interesting point though, is the response that this generated: the
> enforcement of the patent on GIF files led directly to the development of
> the (superior) public domain PNG file format, which is slowly but surely
> replacing GIF as one of the formats of choice for images on the web. I
> think there's probably a lesson in that somewhere...

I hate to tell you this Vilya, but the outcome was Unisys picked up 
some substantial licensing and the fellow who drove the effort got 
a righteous promotion.

The lesson is:  patent as fast as you can.  MPEG does and they 
are going to make money.  Someone has to pay for the stock bubble.

Only money matters.

len



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