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Subject: Re: FBSD 2.1
To: obrien@cs.ucdavis.edu (David E. O'Brien)
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 12:10:45 -0600 (CST)
Cc: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org
In-Reply-To: <9601161056.AA10894@toadflax.cs.ucdavis.edu> from "David E. O'Brien" at Jan 16, 96 02:56:02 am
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> > Other than that I think we're pretty safe.  We're *much* safer with
> > using Zip code than shipping the sources to BSD compress around.
> > 
> 
> Why is that?  What is wrong with the sources to BSD compress?
> Call me stupid, but aren't they covered by the BSD copyright?  In
> /usr/src/usr.bin/compress/doc/NOTES it suggests that /usr/bin/compress
> should be safe as far as this goes.  Have I misunderstood?

I know this one!

1). compress is too slow.

2). compress requires too much core.

3). gzip gives signifigant reduction in size over compress.

4). since someone mentioned sperry earlier, i believe that the algolrithm in 
    compress is exactly what they patented, gzip is a modified LZ, and thus
    not covered by their patent.  According to title 17 usc, if you merely 
    modify a sooper-dooper patented doohickey you can do whatever you want with
    it.

5). gzip is based on the implode/explode from pkzip, the algolrithms for which
    have always been in the public domain, and were put there by phil katz from
    the earliest days of pkzip [please see appnote.txt or something 
    similarly named in the pkzip distribution], i seem to remember 'will always
    be in the public domain' somewhere in the text.  his intention was to get
    market share by not playing it like systems enhancement associates did.

Jim
--
All opinions expressed are mine, if you   | "I will not be pushed, stamped,
think otherwise, then go jump into turbid | briefed, debriefed, indexed, or
radioactive waters and yell WAHOO !!!     | numbered!" - #1, "The Prisoner"
   jbryant@argus.flash.net - FlashNet Communications - Ft. Worth, Texas