Another patent lawsuit...JPG format..

sarettah · 04-25-2004

http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1082915639.html

Forgent sues over JPEG technology patent
Posted 04/25/2004 @ 12:53 PM, by Matt Woodward

The ubiquitous JPEG image format that so many of us are familiar with is currently endorsed by the ISO group. Like all technologies endorsed by ISO, they must be royalty-free. Interestingly enough, Forgent Networks holds a patent that applies to part of the JPEG algorithm and is now suing 31 companies over the use of this patent.

Forgent said it believes that a 17-year-old patent it acquired through the purchase of Compression Labs in 1997 can be applied to a specific algorithm in the format. Defendants in the lawsuit include some of the biggest names in the computing industry, from Apple and IBM to Kodak and Xerox -- all of which use JPEG in their products. Forgent contacted each of the companies over the past year and offered them the chance to license the technology, said Forgent spokesman Michael Noonan. But none accepted, he said.

As terrible as all of this sounds, there are a few good things that may prevent all of this nastiness from happening. First, the patent is 17+ years old and is set to expire around October 2006. While that may seem like a long time to wait, many will recall that Unisys/Compuserve pulled a similar stunt in the mid-90's with the licensing of the LZW algorithm for the GIF format (whose patent recently expired in June 2003.)

.................................................. .

SykkBoy · 04-25-2004

Wonder how many companies that settled with ACACIA will be contacted from these people...
looks like there will be a lot more "business decisions" to come....

Mike AI · 04-25-2004

How long do patents stay in existence??

chodadog · 04-26-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike AI@Apr 25 2004, 06:39 PM
How long do patents stay in existence??

I believe it's 20 years. But i think patents can be extended for certain reasons. But yes, this one is obviously 20 years, 'cause it's 17 years old already, and expiring in 2006.

DrGuile · 04-26-2004

.png anyone?

Mike AI · 04-26-2004

I remember there was something similiar with compurserve and .GIF files. I do not think that patent went to far.

gonzo · 04-26-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike AI@Apr 26 2004, 09:01 AM
I remember there was something similiar with compurserve and .GIF files. I do not think that patent went to far.

It was dismissed as a bullshit lawsuit. They went after all the sysops...that what a webmaster was called in dial up days. Specifically those of us that had gifs on our websites....who do you think jpg got a start?

LadyLaw · 04-26-2004

Forgent boasts they've squeezed $90 million in licensing fees from 30 different companies over the last two years. $16 million alone came from the licensing fee Sony paid.

$90 million is quite a war chest to take on the big boys now.

04-25-2004	#1
sarettah Stay Out Of The Box Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lost in the ozone Posts: 10,318	http://arstechnica.com/news/posts/1082915639.html Forgent sues over JPEG technology patent Posted 04/25/2004 @ 12:53 PM, by Matt Woodward The ubiquitous JPEG image format that so many of us are familiar with is currently endorsed by the ISO group. Like all technologies endorsed by ISO, they must be royalty-free. Interestingly enough, Forgent Networks holds a patent that applies to part of the JPEG algorithm and is now suing 31 companies over the use of this patent. Forgent said it believes that a 17-year-old patent it acquired through the purchase of Compression Labs in 1997 can be applied to a specific algorithm in the format. Defendants in the lawsuit include some of the biggest names in the computing industry, from Apple and IBM to Kodak and Xerox -- all of which use JPEG in their products. Forgent contacted each of the companies over the past year and offered them the chance to license the technology, said Forgent spokesman Michael Noonan. But none accepted, he said. As terrible as all of this sounds, there are a few good things that may prevent all of this nastiness from happening. First, the patent is 17+ years old and is set to expire around October 2006. While that may seem like a long time to wait, many will recall that Unisys/Compuserve pulled a similar stunt in the mid-90's with the licensing of the LZW algorithm for the GIF format (whose patent recently expired in June 2003.) .................................................. . __________________ Free Adult Webcams

04-25-2004	#2
SykkBoy Polishing the Chrome on Bishops Motorcycle $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hell: Bowels : Level 9 Posts: 4,153	Wonder how many companies that settled with ACACIA will be contacted from these people... looks like there will be a lot more "business decisions" to come.... __________________ ADULT PAYMASTER - All Site Access - Paying $70 October 5th! "Love your enemies...just in case your friends turn out to be bastards." - unknown

04-25-2004	#3
Mike AI Administrator Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 11,618	How long do patents stay in existence?? __________________ Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!

04-26-2004	#5
DrGuile french with welsh tendancies Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,007	.png anyone? __________________ LiveBucks / Privatefeeds - Giving you money since 1999 Up to 40% Commission! 25% Webmaster Referal

04-26-2004	#6
Mike AI Administrator Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 11,618	I remember there was something similiar with compurserve and .GIF files. I do not think that patent went to far. __________________ Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!

04-26-2004	#8
LadyLaw Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 366	Forgent boasts they've squeezed $90 million in licensing fees from 30 different companies over the last two years. $16 million alone came from the licensing fee Sony paid. $90 million is quite a war chest to take on the big boys now.