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Web Marketing Breaking News
GIF Patent Expires
By Jerry West
Posted on June 20, 2003
In June of 1983, Unisys Corporation patented an algorithm by LZW (Lempel Ziv Welch) to compress image
files. This became the GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
format we know today.
In the early days of Internet this
format released by CompuServe in 1987 became a very
popular way to store images. But in 1994, Unisys decided
that anyone who used the format needed a license. Confusion
resulted and many websites removed GIF files or changed
them from GIF to JPEG. Software applications like Adobe
Photoshop and Macromedia Fireworks had inflated retail
prices due to the large fees required to pay for the
GIF licensing.
The patent has expired in the United
States, however it is still valid outside of the U.S.
for at least another year.
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© 2003, WebMarketingNow.com
Jerry West is the Director of Internet Marketing for Web
Marketing Now. He has been consulting on the web since
1996 and has assisted hundreds of companies gain an
upper-hand over their competition. Visit Web
Marketing Now for the latest in marketing tips that
are tested and proven.
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