COMPUSERVE ANNOUNCES GIF DEVELOPER LICENSE PROGRAM

On May 28th, 1987, CompuServe introduced the Graphics Interchange Format 
(GIF) specification, subsequently revising the specification on August 8, 
1990. Since that time, CompuServe has worked extensively with developers 
to license GIF and make it the worldwide graphics standard that it 
currently is. GIF uses LZW compression and decompression methods that 
CompuServe originally thought to be public domain. However, Unisys 
Corporation claims patent rights to the LZW algorithm and compression 
process. This has caused some confusion as to whether developers need to 
license LZW from Unisys.

CompuServe recently negotiated and secured a patent license for LZW 
technology from Unisys. Through this license, CompuServe is able to 
provide a sub-license to GIF developers. This CompuServe GIF license 
agreement grants the developer lawful use of GIF and the LZW algorithm 
for certain uses. This relieves licensees from the obligation to license 
LZW directly from Unisys and extends to them other benefits of the terms 
negotiated by CompuServe. The CompuServe GIF license is based upon terms 
established with Unisys by CompuServe. This includes a requirement that 
the developer's software be used primarily with the CompuServe 
Information Service or use information obtained through the CompuServe 
Information Service. This license is subject to a reasonable royalty.

GIF developers who register prior to January 10, 1995 can obtain the 
benefit of a clause in the CompuServe-Unisys agreement that states that 
Unisys will not pursue royalty claims for past use of LZW. The CompuServe 
GIF developer agreement, including compliance requirements, is available 
on the CompuServe Information Service in the Standards and Spec's section 
of the Graphics Support Forum. A new specification will be finalized 
which will become a part of the license agreement.

Additional information and hard copies of the agreement can be obtained 
by contacting Larry Wood of Go Graphics at CIS ID# 76703,704, or by phone 
at 407-658-2687.

From my own, and to be more accurate, I received the following authorization
on Tue May 23 1995 from UNISYS(lzw_info@unisys.com<StarrMT@po4.bb.unisys.com>):
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I can not decipher the code in your next message. In any case, assuming you 
are acting as an individual and are not yourself a substantial part of a 
business, you may release the code as freeware. The notice you provide 
should clearly identify that the code is covered by U.S. Patent 4,558,302 
and foreign equivalent patents, which are owned by Unisys Corporation. The 
notice should additionally state that the code may not be used for 
commercial or for profit purposes or incorporated in another product, 
without first obtaining a license from Unisys Corporation.
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