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1  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
2      <title>Why There Are No GIF files on GNU Web Pages</title>  <title>Why There Are No GIF files on GNU Web Pages</title>
3    
4  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
5    
6      <h2>Why There Are No GIF files on GNU Web Pages</h2>  <h2>Why There Are No GIF Files on GNU Web Pages</h2>
7    
8      <p><strong>While this story is an historical illustration of the danger of  <p>
9      software patents, these particular patents are now no longer a concern. As  <strong>While this story is a historical
10      of the end of September 2006, it is now safe again to use static  illustration of the danger of software patents, these
11      GIFs.</strong></p>  particular patents are now no longer a concern (see
12    <a href="#venuenote">footnote</a> below).  For details of our web site
13      <p>  <a href="/server/fsf-html-style-sheet.html#UseofGraphics">policies
14        There are no GIFs on the GNU web site because of the patents (Unisys  regarding GIFs</a>, see our <a href="/server/standards/">web
15        and IBM) covering the LZW compression algorithm which is used in  guidelines</a>.</strong>
16        making GIF files.  These patents make it impossible to have free  </p>
17        software to generate proper GIFs.  They also apply to the  
18        <strong>compress</strong> program, which is why GNU does not use  <p>
19        it or its format.  There are no GIFs on the GNU web site because of the
20      </p>  patents (Unisys and IBM) covering
21    the LZW compression algorithm
22      <p>  which is used in making GIF files.  These patents make it
23        Unisys and IBM both applied for patents in 1983.  Unisys (and  impossible to have free software to generate proper GIFs.
24        perhaps IBM) applied for these patents in a number of countries.  They also apply to the <strong>compress</strong> program, which is why
25        Of the places whose patent databases we were able to search, the  GNU does not use it or its format.
26        latest expiration date seems to be 1 October 2006.  </p>
27        <a name="returnnote" href="#venuenote"><sup>1</sup></a> Until  
28        then, anyone who releases a free program for making GIF files is  <p>
29        likely to be sued.  We don't know any reason to think that the  Unisys and IBM both applied for patents in 1983.  Unisys (and perhaps
30        patent owners would lose these lawsuits.  IBM) applied for these patents in a number of countries.  Of the
31      </p>  places whose patent databases we were able to search, the latest
32    expiration date seems to be 1 October 2006.
33      <p>  <a name="returnnote" href="#venuenote"><sup>1</sup></a> Until then,
34        If we released such a program, Unisys and IBM might think it wiser  anyone who releases a free program for making GIF files
35        (for public relations reasons) not to sue a charity like the FSF.  is likely to be sued.  We don't know any reason to think that the
36        They could instead sue the users of the program, including the  patent owners would lose these lawsuits.
37        companies who redistribute GNU software.  We feel it would not be  </p>
38        responsible behavior for us to set up this situation.  
39      </p>  <p>
40    If we released such a program, Unisys and IBM might think it wiser
41      <p>  (for public relations reasons) not to sue a charity like the FSF.
42        Many people think that Unisys has given permission for distributing  They could instead sue the users of the program, including the
43        free software to make GIF format.  Unfortunately that is not what  companies who redistribute GNU software.  We feel it would not be
44        Unisys has actually done.  Here is what Unisys actually said about  responsible behavior for us to set up this situation.
45        the matter in 1995:  </p>
46      </p>  
47    <p>
48        <p>  Many people think that Unisys has given permission for distributing
49          <q>Unisys does not require licensing, or fees to be paid,  free software to make GIF format.  Unfortunately that is
50          for non-commercial, non-profit GIF-based applications, including  not what Unisys has actually done.  Here is what Unisys actually said
51          those for use on the on-line services.  Concerning developers of  about the matter in 1995:
52          software for the Internet network, the same principle applies.  </p>
53          Unisys will not pursue previous inadvertent infringement by developers  
54          producing versions of software products for the Internet prior to  <blockquote><p>Unisys does not require licensing, or fees to be paid, for
55          1995. The company does not require licensing, or fees to be paid  non-commercial, non-profit GIF-based applications,
56          for non-commercial, non-profit offerings on the Internet, including  including those for use on the on-line services.  Concerning
57          "Freeware".</q>  developers of software for the Internet network, the same principle
58        </p>  applies.  Unisys will not pursue previous inadvertent infringement by
59    developers producing versions of software products for the Internet
60      <p>  prior to 1995. The company does not require licensing, or fees to be
61        Unfortunately, this doesn't permit  paid for non-commercial, non-profit offerings on the Internet,
62        <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free software</a>, only  including &ldquo;Freeware&rdquo;.</p></blockquote>
63        <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#semi-freeSoftware">semi-free  
64        software</a> which cannot be used in a free operating system such  <p>
65        as GNU.  It also does not permit <em>at all</em> the use of LZW  Unfortunately, this doesn't permit
66        for other purposes such as compression of files.  This is why we  <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free software</a> which can be used
67        think it is still best to reject LZW, and switch to alternatives  in a free operating system such as GNU.  It also does not
68        such as <a href="/software/gzip/gzip.html">GNU zip</a> and PNG format.  permit <em>at all</em> the use of LZW for other purposes
69      </p>  such as compression of files.  This is why we think it is still best
70    to reject LZW, and switch to alternatives such
71      <p>  as <a href="/software/gzip/gzip.html">GNU Gzip</a>
72        <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">Commercial redistribution of  and PNG.
73        free software</a> is very important, and we want the GNU system as  </p>
74        a whole to be redistributed commercially.  This means we can't add  
75        a GIF-generating program to GNU, not under the Unisys terms.  <p>
76      </p>  <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">Commercial redistribution of free
77    software</a> is very important, and we want the GNU system as a whole
78      <p>  to be redistributed commercially.  This means we can't add
79        The <a href="http://www.fsf.org">Free Software Foundation</a> is a  a GIF-generating program to GNU, not under the Unisys
80        non-commercial, non-profit organization, so strictly speaking the  terms.
81        income from our sales of <a href="http://order.fsf.org/">CD-ROMs</a>  </p>
82        is not "profit".  Perhaps this means we could include a GIF  
83        program on our CD-ROM and claim to be acting within the scope of  <p>
84        the Unisys permission--or perhaps not.  But since we know that  The <a href="http://www.fsf.org">Free Software Foundation</a> is a
85        other redistributors of GNU would be unable to include it, doing  non-commercial, non-profit organization, so strictly speaking the
86        this would not be very useful.  income from our sales of <a href="http://shop.fsf.org/">CD-ROMs</a>
87      </p>  is not &ldquo;profit&rdquo;.  Perhaps this means we could include
88    a GIF program on our CD-ROM and claim to be acting within
89      <p>  the scope of the Unisys permission&mdash;or perhaps not.  But since we
90        Shortly after Unisys made its announcement, when the net in general  know that other redistributors of GNU would be unable to include it,
91        was reassured thinking that Unisys had given permission for free  doing this would not be very useful.
92        GIF-generating software, we wrote to the Unisys legal department  </p>
93        asking for clarification of these issues.  We did not receive a  
94        response.  <p>
95      </p>  Shortly after Unisys made its announcement, when the net in general
96    was reassured thinking that Unisys had given permission for
97      <p>  free GIF-generating software, we wrote to the Unisys
98        Even if Unisys really did give permission for free software to  legal department asking for clarification of these issues.  We did not
99        generate GIFs, we would still have to deal with the IBM patent.  receive a response.
100        Both the IBM and the Unisys patents cover the same "invention"--the  </p>
101        LZW compression algorithm.  (This could reflect an error on the  
102        part of the US Patent and Trademark Office, which is famous for  <p>
103        incompetence and poor judgment.)  Even if Unisys really did give permission for free software to
104      </p>  generate GIFs, we would still have to deal with the IBM
105    patent.  Both the IBM and the Unisys patents cover the same
106      <p>  &ldquo;invention&rdquo;&mdash;the LZW compression
107        Decoding GIFs is a different issue.  The Unisys and IBM patents  algorithm.  (This could reflect an error on the part of the US Patent
108        are both written in such a way that they do not apply to a program  and Trademark Office, which is famous for incompetence and poor
109        which can only uncompress LZW format and cannot compress.  Therefore  judgment.)
110        we can and will include support for displaying GIF files in GNU  </p>
111        software.  
112      </p>  <p>
113    Decoding GIFs is a different issue.  The Unisys and IBM
114      <p>  patents are both written in such a way that they do not apply to a
115        Given this situation, we could still include GIF files in our web  program which can only uncompress LZW format and cannot
116        pages if we wanted to.  Many other people would be happy to generate  compress.  Therefore we can and will include support for
117        them for us, and we would not be sued for having GIF files on our  displaying GIF files in GNU software.
118        server.  </p>
119      </p>  
120    <p>
121      <p>  Given this situation, we could still include GIF files in
122        But we feel that if we can't distribute the software to enable  our web pages if we wanted to.  Many other people would be happy to
123        people to generate GIF files properly, then we should not have  generate them for us, and we would not be sued for
124        other people run such software for us.  Besides, if we can't provide  having GIF files on our server.
125        software in GNU to generate GIF files, we have to recommend an  </p>
126        alternative.  We ourselves should use the alternative that we  
127        recommend.  <p>
128      </p>  But we feel that if we can't distribute the software to enable people
129    to generate GIF files properly, then we should not have
130      <p>  other people run such software for us.  Besides, if we can't provide
131        In 1999, Unisys had the following to say about the issue of their  software in GNU to generate GIF files, we have to
132        patent:  recommend an alternative.  We ourselves should use the alternative
133      </p>  that we recommend.
134    </p>
135        <p>  
136          <q>Unisys has frequently been asked whether a Unisys license  <p>
137          is required in order to use LZW software obtained by downloading  In 1999, Unisys had the following to say about the issue of their
138          from the Internet or from other sources. The answer is simple. In  patent:
139          all cases, a written license agreement or statement signed by an  </p>
140          authorized Unisys representative is required from Unisys for all  
141          use, sale or distribution of any software (including so-called  <blockquote><p>Unisys has frequently been asked whether a Unisys
142          "freeware") and/or hardware providing LZW conversion capability  license is required in order to use LZW software obtained
143          (for example, downloaded software). </q>  by downloading from the Internet or from other sources. The answer is
144        </p>  simple. In all cases, a written license agreement or statement signed
145    by an authorized Unisys representative is required from Unisys for all
146      <p>  use, sale or distribution of any software (including so-called
147        With this statement, Unisys is trying to take back what they said  &ldquo;freeware&rdquo;) and/or hardware providing LZW
148        in 1995 when they gave parts of the patent to the public. The  conversion capability (for example, downloaded
149        legality of such a move is questionable.  software).</p></blockquote>
150      </p>  
151    <p>
152      <p>  With this statement, Unisys is trying to take back what they said in
153        A further issue is that the LZW patents--and software patents in  1995 when they gave parts of the patent to the public. The legality of
154        general--are an offense against the freedom of programmers generally,  such a move is questionable.
155        and all programmers need to work together against software patents.  </p>
156      </p>  
157    <p>
158      <p>  A further issue is that the LZW patents&mdash;and
159        So even if we could find a solution to enable the free software  software patents in general&mdash;are an offense against the freedom
160        community to generate GIFs, that isn't really a solution, not for  of programmers generally, and all programmers need to work together
161        the problem as a whole.  The solution is switching to another format  against software patents.
162        and not using GIF any more.  </p>
163      </p>  
164    <p>
165      <p>  So even if we could find a solution to enable the free software
166        Therefore, we don't use GIF, and we hope you won't use it either.  community to generate GIFs, that isn't really a solution,
167      </p>  not for the problem as a whole.  The solution is switching to another
168    format and not using GIF any more.
169      <p>  </p>
170        It is possible to make non-compressed images that act like GIFs,  
171        in that they work with programs that decode GIF format.  This can  <p>
172        be done without infringing patents.  These pseudo-GIFs are useful  Therefore, we don't use GIF, and we hope you won't use it
173        for some purposes.  either.
174      </p>  </p>
175    
176      <p>  <p>
177        It is also possible to create GIFs using a patent-free run length  It is possible to make non-compressed images that act
178        encoding but this doesn't achieve the compression that one normally  like GIFs, in that they work with programs that
179        expects in a GIF.  decode GIF format.  This can be done without infringing
180      </p>  patents.  These pseudo-GIFs are useful for some purposes.
181    </p>
182      <p>  
183        We decided not to use these pseudo-GIFs on our web site because  <p>
184        they are not a satisfactory solution to the community's problem.  It is also possible to create GIFs using a patent-free
185        They work, but they are very large.  What the web needs is a  run length encoding but this doesn't achieve the compression that one
186        patent-free compressed format, not large pseudo-GIFs.  normally expects in a GIF.
187      </p>  </p>
188    
189      <p>  <p>
190        <a href="http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/index.html">PNG format</a>  We decided not to use these pseudo-GIFs on our web site
191        is a patent-free compressed format.  We hope it will become widely  because they are not a satisfactory solution to the community's
192        supported; then we will use it.  We do have  problem.  They work, but they are very large.  What the web needs is a
193        <a href="/graphics/graphics.html">PNG versions</a> of the images  patent-free compressed format, not large pseudo-GIFs.
194        on this server.  </p>
195      </p>  
196    <p>
197      <p>  The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics">PNG
198        For more information about the GIF patent problems, see  format</a> is a patent-free compressed format.  We hope it will become
199        <a href="http://lpf.ai.mit.edu/Patents/Gif/Gif.html">the League  widely supported; then we will use it.  We do provide PNG versions of
200        for Programming Freedom GIF page</a>.  Through that page you can  most of the <a href="/graphics/graphics.html">images on this server</a>.
201        find more information about the problem of software patents in  </p>
202        general.  
203      </p>  <p>
204    For more information about the GIF patent problems,
205      <p>  see <a href="http://www.progfree.org/Patents/Gif/Gif.html">the League for
206        <a href="http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/pngapbr.html">The browser  Programming Freedom GIF page</a>.  Through that page you
207        support page</a> lists browsers which are compatible with the PNG  can find more information about the <a
208        format and comments on how well they support it.    href="http://endsoftpatents.org/">problem of software patents in
209      </p>  general.</a>
210    </p>
211      <p>  
212        There's a library called  <p>
213    There is a library called libungif that reads gif files and writes
214    uncompressed gifs to circumvent the Unisys patent.
215        <a href="http://ca.geocities.com/libungif/">  </p>
216          libungif</a> that reads gif files and writes uncompressed gifs to  
217          circumvent the Unisys patent.    <p>
218      </p>  <a href="http://burnallgifs.org">http://burnallgifs.org</a> is a
219    web site devoted to discouraging the use of GIF files on
220      <p>  the web.
221        <a href="http://burnallgifs.org">http://burnallgifs.org</a> is a  </p>
222        website devoted to discouraging the use of GIF files on your website.  
223      </p>  <h3>Footnote:</h3>
224    
225      <h3>Footnote:</h3>  <p><a href="#returnnote" id="venuenote">1.</a> We were able to search
226    the patent databases of the USA, Canada, Japan, and the European
227      <p><a href="#returnnote" id="venuenote">1.</a> We were able to search the  Union. The Unisys patent expired on 20 June 2003 in the USA, in Europe
228      patent databases of the USA, Canada, Japan, and the European Union. The  it expired on 18 June 2004, in Japan the patent expired on 20 June
229      Unisys patent expired on 20 June 2003 in the USA, in Europe it  2004 and in Canada it expired on 7 July 2004. The U.S. IBM patent
230      expired on 18 June 2004, in Japan the patent expired on 20 June  expired 11 August 2006. The Software Freedom Law Center says that
231      2004 and in Canada it expired on 7 July 2004. The U.S. IBM  after 1 October 2006, there will be no significant patent claims
232      patent expired 11 August 2006, The Software Freedom Law Center says that  interfering with employment of the GIF format.</p>
     after 1 October 2006, there will be no significant patent claims  
     interfering with employment of the GIF format.</p>  
233    
234      </div>  </div>
235    
236  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
237    
238      <div id="footer">  <div id="footer">
   
239    
240        <p>  <p>
241          Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
242          <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><em>gnu@gnu.org</em></a>.  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><em>gnu@gnu.org</em></a>.
243          There are also <a href="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to contact</a>  There are also <a href="/contact/">other ways to contact</a>
244          the FSF.  the FSF.
245          <br />  <br />
246          Please send broken links and other corrections (or suggestions) to  Please send broken links and other corrections or suggestions to
247          <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><em>webmasters@gnu.org</em></a>.  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><em>webmasters@gnu.org</em></a>.
248        </p>  </p>
249    
250        <p>  <p>
251          Please see the  Please see the
252          <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations  <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
253          README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting  README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting
254          translations of this article.  translations of this article.
255        </p>  </p>
256    
257        <p>  <p>
258          Copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,  Copyright &copy; 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 Free
259          51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110, USA  Software Foundation, Inc.,</p>
260          <br />  <address>51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110, USA</address>
261          Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  <p>Verbatim copying and distribution of this
262          permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty
263          preserved.  provided this notice is preserved.
264        </p>  </p>
265    
266        <p>  <p>
267          Updated:  Updated:
268          <!-- timestamp start -->  <!-- timestamp start -->
269          $Date$ $Author$  $Date$
270          <!-- timestamp end -->  <!-- timestamp end -->
271        </p>  </p>
272      </div>  </div>
   
   
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       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.es.html">Espa&#x00f1;ol</a></li>     <!-- Spanish -->  
       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.fr.html">Fran&#x00e7;ais</a></li>    <!-- French -->  
   
       <!-- Japanese -->  
       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a></li>  
   
       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a></li><!-- Korean -->  
       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.pl.html">Polski</a></li>             <!-- Polish -->  
       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ro.html">Rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a></li>     <!-- Romanian -->  
   
       <!-- Russian/Russkij -->  
       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ru.html">&#1056;&#1091;&#1089;&#1089;&#1082;&#1080;&#1081;</a></li>  
       <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.sr.html">&#x0421;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a></li> <!-- Serbian -->  
       </ul>  
     </div>  
273    
274    <div id="translations">
275    <h4>Translations of this page</h4>
276    
277    <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical by language code. -->
278    <!-- Comment what the language is for each type, i.e. de is German. -->
279    <!-- Write the language name in its own language (Deutsch) in the text. -->
280    <!-- If you add a new language here, please -->
281    <!-- advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->
282    <!--  - /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
283    <!--  - one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
284    <!--  - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
285    <!--  to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
286    <!-- Please also check you have the language code right; see: -->
287    <!-- http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php -->
288    <!-- If the 2-letter ISO 639-1 code is not available, -->
289    <!-- use the 3-letter ISO 639-2. -->
290    <!-- Please use W3C normative character entities. -->
291    
292    <ul class="translations-list">
293    <!-- Catalan -->
294    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ca.html">Catal&#x00e0;</a>&nbsp;[ca]</li>
295    <!-- German -->
296    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.de.html">Deutsch</a>&nbsp;[de]</li>
297    <!-- English -->
298    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.html">English</a>&nbsp;[en]</li>
299    <!-- Spanish -->
300    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.es.html">Espa&#x00f1;ol</a>&nbsp;[es]</li>
301    <!-- French -->
302    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.fr.html">Fran&#x00e7;ais</a>&nbsp;[fr]</li>
303    <!-- Hebrew -->
304    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.he.html">&#x05e2;&#x05d1;&#x05e8;&#x05d9;&#x05ea;</a>&nbsp;[he]</li>
305    <!-- Japanese -->
306    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>&nbsp;[ja]</li>
307    <!-- Korean -->
308    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a>&nbsp;[ko]</li>
309    <!-- Polish -->
310    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.pl.html">polski</a>&nbsp;[pl]</li>
311    <!-- Romanian -->
312    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ro.html">Rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>&nbsp;[ro]</li>
313    <!-- Russian -->
314    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ru.html">&#1056;&#1091;&#1089;&#1089;&#1082;&#1080;&#1081;</a>&nbsp;[ru]</li>
315    <!-- Serbian -->
316    <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.sr.html">&#x0421;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a>&nbsp;[sr]</li>
317    </ul>
318  </div>  </div>
319    </div>
320    </body>  </body>
321  </html>  </html>
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