
   WHY GIF (TM) IS OBSOLETE UNDER TERMS OF FREE AVAILABILITY

   And why you should use PNG whereever you can.

   In some countries the LZW compression algorithm, as e.g. used by
   the GIF graphics file format (known as GIF87a and GIF89a),
   the TIFF 5.0 (LZW compression) graphics file format, the
   GNU "compress" tool, some Fax file formats, some modem compression
   algorithms and various small compression software packages, is
   protected by patents owned by Unisys.

   Many years ago, the algorithm had been published in magazine(s) and more
   or less seemed to be free, but since the Internet boomed and GIF became
   one of the most often used graphic file formats, it also became
   lucrative to take license fees. And that was done.

   In Germany and other countries algorithms as such are not protectable
   in general, but since these are in some other countries and the USA,
   a successor for the GIF file format has been developed, which
   has some very important characteristics:

           - it is completely free in use, as also are the sources
             needed to implement support for it
           - all used algorithms are free of any patent claims
             anywhere
           - it has all the features, which a WWW graphics format
             must have
           - it compresses well and it's lossless
           - together with lossy JPEG it can replace GIF in most cases

   With Amiga Web Browsers, full featured reading is most simply supported:
   there only needs to be a plain datatype plugin module installed
   (like akPNG.datatype - and it'll work.

   For writing, you may use tools like gif2png or applications like PersonalPaint,
   SuperView or PNG-Box.

   Use PNG whereever you can.


   MY vote is for PNG, YOU may vote and decide, too.
   There are people around, who can't accept this, so
   please note: these and other pages simply do express
   my opinion and do report about current developments.
   Don't send any insults or complaints to my address, but
   feel free to ask any unsolved questions. But if you don't like
   PNG, which BTW has been invented by an independent group of
   international software developers being coordinated fromout
   the USA, then simply let it be, but don't blame me personally...
   (you won't get a reply). Introduction of PNG is a democratic process,
   where users and developers both have the option to express their
   wishes, needs and opinions. Above were mine.


   Created and (C) 1997 by Andreas R. Kleinert.
   All mentioned trademarks are subject to their owners.
