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1  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>  <!--#include virtual="/server/header.html" -->
2  <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"      <title>Why There Are No GIF files on GNU Web Pages</title>
3      "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">  
4  <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">  <!--#include virtual="/server/banner.html" -->
5    
6  <head>      <h2>Why There Are No GIF files on GNU Web Pages</h2>
7  <title>Why There Are No GIF files on GNU Web Pages</title>  
8  <meta http-equiv="content-type" content='text/html; charset=utf-8' />      <p><strong>While this story is an historical illustration of the danger of
9  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/gnu.css" />      software patents, these particular patents are now no longer a concern. As
10  <link rev="made" href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org" />      of the end of September 2006, it is now safe again to use static
11  </head>      GIFs.</strong></p>
12    
13  <!-- This document is in XML, and xhtml 1.0 -->      <p>
14  <!-- Please make sure to properly nest your tags -->        There are no GIFs on the GNU web site because of the patents (Unisys
15  <!-- and ensure that your final document validates -->        and IBM) covering the LZW compression algorithm which is used in
16  <!-- consistent with W3C xhtml 1.0 and CSS standards -->        making GIF files.  These patents make it impossible to have free
17  <!-- See validator.w3.org -->        software to generate proper GIFs.  They also apply to the
18          <strong>compress</strong> program, which is why GNU does not use
19  <body>        it or its format.
20        </p>
21  <a href="#translations">Translations</a> of this page  
22        <p>
23  <h3>Why There Are No GIF files on GNU Web Pages</h3>        Unisys and IBM both applied for patents in 1983.  Unisys (and
24          perhaps IBM) applied for these patents in a number of countries.
25  <a href="/graphics/philosophicalgnu.html"><img src="/graphics/philosophical-gnu-sm.jpg" alt=" [image of a Philosophical Gnu] "></a>        Of the places whose patent databases we were able to search, the
26          latest expiration date seems to be 1 October 2006.
27  <hr />        <a name="returnnote" href="#venuenote"><sup>1</sup></a> Until
28          then, anyone who releases a free program for making GIF files is
29  <p>        likely to be sued.  We don't know any reason to think that the
30  There are no GIFs on the GNU web site because of the patents (Unisys        patent owners would lose these lawsuits.
31  and IBM) covering the LZW compression algorithm which is used in      </p>
32  making GIF files.  These patents make it impossible to have free  
33  software to generate proper GIFs.  They also apply to the      <p>
34  <strong>compress</strong> program, which is why GNU does not use        If we released such a program, Unisys and IBM might think it wiser
35  it or its format.        (for public relations reasons) not to sue a charity like the FSF.
36  <p>        They could instead sue the users of the program, including the
37          companies who redistribute GNU software.  We feel it would not be
38  <p>        responsible behavior for us to set up this situation.
39  Unisys and IBM both applied for patents in 1983.  Unisys (and      </p>
40  perhaps IBM) applied for these patents in a number of countries.  
41  Of the places whose patent databases we were able to search, the      <p>
42  latest expiration date seems to be Friday 11 August 2006        Many people think that Unisys has given permission for distributing
43  <a name="returnnote" href="#venuenote"><sup>1</sup></a>.  Until then,        free software to make GIF format.  Unfortunately that is not what
44  anyone who releases a free program for making GIF files is likely        Unisys has actually done.  Here is what Unisys actually said about
45  to be sued.  We don't know any reason to think that the patent        the matter in 1995:
46  owners would lose these lawsuits.      </p>
47  </p>  
48          <p>
49  <p>          <q>Unisys does not require licensing, or fees to be paid,
50  If we released such a program, Unisys and IBM might think it wiser          for non-commercial, non-profit GIF-based applications, including
51  (for public relations reasons) not to sue a charity like the FSF.          those for use on the on-line services.  Concerning developers of
52  They could instead sue the users of the program, including the          software for the Internet network, the same principle applies.
53  companies who redistribute GNU software.  We feel it would not be          Unisys will not pursue previous inadvertent infringement by developers
54  responsible behavior for us to set up this situation.          producing versions of software products for the Internet prior to
55  </p>          1995. The company does not require licensing, or fees to be paid
56            for non-commercial, non-profit offerings on the Internet, including
57  <p>          "Freeware".</q>
58  Many people think that Unisys has given permission for distributing        </p>
59  free software to make GIF format.  Unfortunately that is not what  
60  Unisys has actually done.  Here is what Unisys actually said about      <p>
61  the matter in 1995:        Unfortunately, this doesn't permit
62  </p>        <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free software</a>, only
63          <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#semi-freeSoftware">semi-free
64  <blockquote>        software</a> which cannot be used in a free operating system such
65  <p>        as GNU.  It also does not permit <em>at all</em> the use of LZW
66  <strong>Unisys does not require licensing, or fees to be paid,        for other purposes such as compression of files.  This is why we
67  for non-commercial, non-profit GIF-based applications, including        think it is still best to reject LZW, and switch to alternatives
68  those for use on the on-line services.  Concerning developers of        such as <a href="/software/gzip/gzip.html">GNU zip</a> and PNG format.
69  software for the Internet network, the same principle applies.      </p>
70  Unisys will not pursue previous inadvertent infringement by developers  
71  producing versions of software products for the Internet prior to      <p>
72  1995. The company does not require licensing, or fees to be paid        <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">Commercial redistribution of
73  for non-commercial, non-profit offerings on the Internet, including        free software</a> is very important, and we want the GNU system as
74  "Freeware".</strong>        a whole to be redistributed commercially.  This means we can't add
75  </p>        a GIF-generating program to GNU, not under the Unisys terms.
76  </blockquote>      </p>
77    
78  <p>      <p>
79  Unfortunately, this doesn't permit        The <a href="http://www.fsf.org">Free Software Foundation</a> is a
80  <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free software</a>, only        non-commercial, non-profit organization, so strictly speaking the
81  <a href="/philosophy/categories.html#semi-freeSoftware">semi-free        income from our sales of <a href="http://order.fsf.org/">CD-ROMs</a>
82  software</a> which cannot be used in a free operating system such        is not "profit".  Perhaps this means we could include a GIF
83  as GNU.  It also does not permit <em>at all</em> the use of LZW        program on our CD-ROM and claim to be acting within the scope of
84  for other purposes such as compression of files.  This is why we        the Unisys permission--or perhaps not.  But since we know that
85  had to develop <a href="/software/gzip/gzip.html">GNU zip</a>        other redistributors of GNU would be unable to include it, doing
86  as a replacement for <strong>compress</strong>.        this would not be very useful.
87  </p>      </p>
88    
89  <p>      <p>
90  <a href="/philosophy/selling.html">Commercial redistribution of        Shortly after Unisys made its announcement, when the net in general
91  free software</a> is very important, and we want the GNU system as        was reassured thinking that Unisys had given permission for free
92  a whole to be redistributed commercially.  This means we can't add        GIF-generating software, we wrote to the Unisys legal department
93  a GIF-generating program to GNU, not under the Unisys terms.        asking for clarification of these issues.  We did not receive a
94  </p>        response.
95        </p>
96  <p>  
97  The <a href="/fsf/fsf.html">Free Software Foundation</a> is a      <p>
98  non-commercial, non-profit organization, so strictly speaking the        Even if Unisys really did give permission for free software to
99  income from our sales of <a href="http://order.fsf.org/">CD-ROMs</a>        generate GIFs, we would still have to deal with the IBM patent.
100  is not "profit".  Perhaps this means we could include a GIF        Both the IBM and the Unisys patents cover the same "invention"--the
101  program on our CD-ROM and claim to be acting within the scope of        LZW compression algorithm.  (This could reflect an error on the
102  the Unisys permission--or perhaps not.  But since we know that        part of the US Patent and Trademark Office, which is famous for
103  other redistributors of GNU would be unable to include it, doing        incompetence and poor judgment.)
104  this would not be very useful.      </p>
105  </p>  
106        <p>
107  <p>        Decoding GIFs is a different issue.  The Unisys and IBM patents
108  Shortly after Unisys made its announcement, when the net in general        are both written in such a way that they do not apply to a program
109  was reassured thinking that Unisys had given permission for free        which can only uncompress LZW format and cannot compress.  Therefore
110  GIF-generating software, we wrote to the Unisys legal department        we can and will include support for displaying GIF files in GNU
111  asking for clarification of these issues.  We did not receive a        software.
112  response.      </p>
113  </p>  
114        <p>
115  <p>        Given this situation, we could still include GIF files in our web
116  Even if Unisys really did give permission for free software to        pages if we wanted to.  Many other people would be happy to generate
117  generate GIFs, we would still have to deal with the IBM patent.        them for us, and we would not be sued for having GIF files on our
118  Both the IBM and the Unisys patents cover the same "invention"--the        server.
119  LZW compression algorithm.  (This could reflect an error on the      </p>
120  part of the US Patent and Trademark Office, which is famous for  
121  incompetence and poor judgment.)      <p>
122  </p>        But we feel that if we can't distribute the software to enable
123          people to generate GIF files properly, then we should not have
124  <p>        other people run such software for us.  Besides, if we can't provide
125  Decoding GIFs is a different issue.  The Unisys and IBM patents        software in GNU to generate GIF files, we have to recommend an
126  are both written in such a way that they do not apply to a program        alternative.  We ourselves should use the alternative that we
127  which can only uncompress LZW format and cannot compress.  Therefore        recommend.
128  we can and will include support for displaying GIF files in GNU      </p>
129  software.  
130  </p>      <p>
131          In 1999, Unisys had the following to say about the issue of their
132  <p>        patent:
133  Given this situation, we could still include GIF files in our web      </p>
134  pages if we wanted to.  Many other people would be happy to generate  
135  them for us, and we would not be sued for having GIF files on our        <p>
136  server.          <q>Unisys has frequently been asked whether a Unisys license
137  </p>          is required in order to use LZW software obtained by downloading
138            from the Internet or from other sources. The answer is simple. In
139  <p>          all cases, a written license agreement or statement signed by an
140  But we feel that if we can't distribute the software to enable          authorized Unisys representative is required from Unisys for all
141  people to generate GIF files properly, then we should not have          use, sale or distribution of any software (including so-called
142  other people run such software for us.  Besides, if we can't provide          "freeware") and/or hardware providing LZW conversion capability
143  software in GNU to generate GIF files, we have to recommend an          (for example, downloaded software). </q>
144  alternative.  We ourselves should use the alternative that we        </p>
145  recommend.  
146  </p>      <p>
147          With this statement, Unisys is trying to take back what they said
148  <p>        in 1995 when they gave parts of the patent to the public. The
149  In 1999, Unisys had the following to say about the issue of their        legality of such a move is questionable.
150  patent:      </p>
151  </p>  
152        <p>
153  <blockquote>        A further issue is that the LZW patents--and software patents in
154  <p>        general--are an offense against the freedom of programmers generally,
155  <strong>Unisys has frequently been asked whether a Unisys license        and all programmers need to work together against software patents.
156  is required in order to use LZW software obtained by downloading      </p>
157  from the Internet or from other sources. The answer is simple. In  
158  all cases, a written license agreement or statement signed by an      <p>
159  authorized Unisys representative is required from Unisys for all        So even if we could find a solution to enable the free software
160  use, sale or distribution of any software (including so-called        community to generate GIFs, that isn't really a solution, not for
161  "freeware") and/or hardware providing LZW conversion capability        the problem as a whole.  The solution is switching to another format
162  (for example, downloaded software). </strong>        and not using GIF any more.
163  </p>      </p>
164  </blockquote>  
165        <p>
166  <p>        Therefore, we don't use GIF, and we hope you won't use it either.
167  With this statement, Unisys is trying to take back what they said      </p>
168  in 1995 when they gave parts of the patent to the public. The  
169  legality of such a move is questionable.      <p>
170  </p>        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
172  <p>        be done without infringing patents.  These pseudo-GIFs are useful
173  A further issue is that the LZW patents--and software patents in        for some purposes.
174  general--are an offense against the freedom of programmers generally,      </p>
175  and all programmers need to work together against software patents.  
176  </p>      <p>
177          It is also possible to create GIFs using a patent-free run length
178  <p>        encoding but this doesn't achieve the compression that one normally
179  So even if we could find a solution to enable the free software        expects in a GIF.
180  community to generate GIFs, that isn't really a solution, not for      </p>
181  the problem as a whole.  The solution is switching to another format  
182  and not using GIF any more.      <p>
183  </p>        We decided not to use these pseudo-GIFs on our web site because
184          they are not a satisfactory solution to the community's problem.
185  <p>        They work, but they are very large.  What the web needs is a
186  Therefore, we don't use GIF, and we hope you won't use it either.        patent-free compressed format, not large pseudo-GIFs.
187  </p>      </p>
188    
189  <p>      <p>
190  It is possible to make non-compressed images that act like GIFs,        <a href="http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/index.html">PNG format</a>
191  in that they work with programs that decode GIF format.  This can        is a patent-free compressed format.  We hope it will become widely
192  be done without infringing patents.  These pseudo-GIFs are useful        supported; then we will use it.  We do have
193  for some purposes.        <a href="/graphics/graphics.html">PNG versions</a> of the images
194  </p>        on this server.
195        </p>
196  <p>  
197  It is also possible to create GIFs using a patent-free run length      <p>
198  encoding but this doesn't achieve the compression that one normally        For more information about the GIF patent problems, see
199  expects in a GIF.        <a href="http://lpf.ai.mit.edu/Patents/Gif/Gif.html">the League
200  </p>        for Programming Freedom GIF page</a>.  Through that page you can
201          find more information about the problem of software patents in
202  <p>        general.
203  We decided not to use these pseudo-GIFs on our web site because      </p>
204  they are not a satisfactory solution to the community's problem.  
205  They work, but they are very large.  What the web needs is a      <p>
206  patent-free compressed format, not large pseudo-GIFs.        <a href="http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/pngapbr.html">The browser
207  </p>        support page</a> lists browsers which are compatible with the PNG
208          format and comments on how well they support it.  
209  <p>      </p>
210  <a href="http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/index.html">PNG format</a>  
211  is a patent-free compressed format.  We hope it will become widely      <p>
212  supported; then we will use it.  We do have        There's a library called
213  <a href="/graphics/graphics.html">PNG versions</a> of the images  
214  on this server.  
215  </p>        <a href="http://ca.geocities.com/libungif/">
216            libungif</a> that reads gif files and writes uncompressed gifs to
217  <p>          circumvent the Unisys patent.  
218  For more information about the GIF patent problems, see      </p>
219  <a href="http://lpf.ai.mit.edu/Patents/Gif/Gif.html">the League  
220  for Programming Freedom GIF page</a>.  Through that page you can      <p>
221  find more information about the problem of software patents in        <a href="http://burnallgifs.org">http://burnallgifs.org</a> is a
222  general.        website devoted to discouraging the use of GIF files on your website.
223  </p>      </p>
224    
225  <p>      <h3>Footnote:</h3>
226  <a href="http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/pngapbr.html">The browser  
227  support page</a> lists browsers which are compatible with the PNG      <p><a href="#returnnote" id="venuenote">1.</a> We were able to search the
228  format and comments on how well they support it.        patent databases of the USA, Canada, Japan, and the European Union. The
229  </p>      Unisys patent expired on 20 June 2003 in the USA, in Europe it
230        expired on 18 June 2004, in Japan the patent expired on 20 June
231  <p>      2004 and in Canada it expired on 7 July 2004. The U.S. IBM
232  There's a library called      patent expired 11 August 2006, The Software Freedom Law Center says that
233  <a href="http://prtr-13.ucsc.edu/~badger/software/libungif/index.shtml">      after 1 October 2006, there will be no significant patent claims
234  libungif</a> that reads gif files and writes uncompressed gifs to      interfering with employment of the GIF format.</p>
235  circumvent the Unisys patent.    
236  </p>      </div>
237    
238  <p>  <!--#include virtual="/server/footer.html" -->
239  <a href="http://burnallgifs.org">http://burnallgifs.org</a> is a  
240  website devoted to discouraging the use of GIF files on your website.      <div id="footer">
241  </p>  
242    
243  <hr />        <p>
244  Footnote:          Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to
245  <br />          <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><em>gnu@gnu.org</em></a>.
246  <a href="#returnnote" id="venuenote">1.</a> We were able to search          There are also <a href="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to contact</a>
247  the patent databases of the USA, Canada, Japan, and the European          the FSF.
248  Union.  <b>The Unisys patent expired on 20 June 2003 in the USA</b>, in <b>Europe          <br />
249  it expired on 18 June 2004</b>, in <b>Japan          Please send broken links and other corrections (or suggestions) to
250  patent expired on 20 June 2004</b> and in <b>Canada it expired on 7 July 2004.</b>  The U.S. IBM          <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><em>webmasters@gnu.org</em></a>.
251  patent expires 11 August 2006, (we are still searching the        </p>
252  databases of other countries).  
253  <hr />        <p>
254            Please see the
255  <h4><a href="/philosophy/philosophy.html">Other Texts to Read</a></h4>          <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations
256            README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting
257  <!-- All pages on the GNU web server should have the section about    -->          translations of this article.
258  <!-- verbatim copying.  Please do NOT remove this without talking     -->        </p>
259  <!-- with the webmasters first. -->  
260  <!-- Please make sure the copyright date is consistent with the document -->        <p>
261  <!-- and that it is like this "2001, 2002" not this "2001-2002." -->          Copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
262            51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110, USA
263  <p style="font-size: 10pt;">          <br />
264  <a id="translations"></a>          Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is
265  <b>Translations of this page</b>:<br />          permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is
266            preserved.
267  <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->        </p>
268  <!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->  
269  <!-- If you do not have it English, please comment what the -->        <p>
270  <!-- English is.  If you add a new language here, please -->          Updated:
271  <!-- advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->          <!-- timestamp start -->
272  <!--    - in /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->          $Date$ $Author$
273  <!--    - in /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->          <!-- timestamp end -->
274  <!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->        </p>
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276  <!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->  
277  <!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->  
278  <!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->      <div id="translations">
279          <h3>Translations of this page</h3>
280  [  
281    <a href="/philosophy/gif.html">English</a>        <!-- Please keep this list alphabetical, and in the original -->
282  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.de.html">Deutsch</a>         <!-- German -->        <!-- language if possible, otherwise default to English -->
283  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.fr.html">Fran&#x00e7;ais</a> <!-- French -->        <!-- If you do not have it English, please comment what the -->
284          <!-- English is.  If you add a new language here, please -->
285  <!-- Japanese -->        <!-- advise web-translators@gnu.org and add it to -->
286  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a>        <!--    - in /home/www/bin/nightly-vars either TAGSLANG or WEBLANG -->
287          <!--    - in /home/www/html/server/standards/README.translations.html -->
288  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a><!-- Korean -->        <!--      one of the lists under the section "Translations Underway" -->
289  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.pl.html">Polski</a>          <!-- Polish -->        <!--    - if there is a translation team, you also have to add an alias -->
290  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.ro.html">Rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a>     <!-- Romanian -->        <!--      to mail.gnu.org:/com/mailer/aliases -->
291          <!-- Please also check you have the 2 letter language code right versus -->
292  <!-- Russian/Russkij -->        <!--     http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/IG/ert/iso639.htm -->
293  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.ru.html">&#1056;&#1091;&#1089;&#1089;&#1082;&#1080;&#1081;</a>  
294  | <a href="/philosophy/gif.sr.html">&#x0421;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a> <!-- Serbian -->        <ul>
295  ]        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ca.html">Catal&#x00e0;</a></li> <!-- Catalan -->
296          <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.html">English</a></li>
297  <div class="copyright">        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.de.html">Deutsch</a></li>            <!-- German -->
298  <p>        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.es.html">Espa&#x00f1;ol</a></li>     <!-- Spanish -->
299  Return to the <a href="/home.html">GNU Project home page</a>.        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.fr.html">Fran&#x00e7;ais</a></li>    <!-- French -->
300  </p>  
301          <!-- Japanese -->
302  <p>        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ja.html">&#x65e5;&#x672c;&#x8a9e;</a></li>
303  Please send FSF &amp; GNU inquiries to  
304  <a href="mailto:gnu@gnu.org"><em>gnu@gnu.org</em></a>.        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ko.html">&#xd55c;&#xad6d;&#xc5b4;</a></li><!-- Korean -->
305  There are also <a href="/home.html#ContactInfo">other ways to contact</a>        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.pl.html">Polski</a></li>             <!-- Polish -->
306  the FSF.        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ro.html">Rom&#x00e2;n&#x0103;</a></li>     <!-- Romanian -->
307  <br />  
308  Please send broken links and other corrections (or suggestions) to        <!-- Russian/Russkij -->
309  <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><em>webmasters@gnu.org</em></a>.        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.ru.html">&#1056;&#1091;&#1089;&#1089;&#1082;&#1080;&#1081;</a></li>
310  </p>        <li><a href="/philosophy/gif.sr.html">&#x0421;&#x0440;&#x043f;&#x0441;&#x043a;&#x0438;</a></li> <!-- Serbian -->
311          </ul>
312  <p>      </div>
313  Please see the  
314  <a href="/server/standards/README.translations.html">Translations  
 README</a> for information on coordinating and submitting  
 translations of this article.  
 </p>  
   
 <p>  
 Copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,  
 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110, USA  
 <br />  
 Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is  
 permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is  
 preserved.  
 </p>  
   
 <p>  
 Updated:  
 <!-- timestamp start -->  
 $Date$ $Author$  
 <!-- timestamp end -->  
 </p>  
315  </div>  </div>
316    
317  </body>    </body>
318  </html>  </html>
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