GIF Images
GIF Images
![[Burn All GIFs]](burnallgifs_87x50.png)
Unisys holds a patent on the LZW algorithm, which is used as the compression algorithm in GIF images (GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format, and was created by Compuserve around 1987).
Recently Unisys has clarified their LZW licensing policy, allowing operators of "Internet Billboard Web Sites" (their term, not mine) to satisfy the licensing requirements by paying a low US$5000 license fee for the privilege of using GIF format images on such a web site.
Yeah, right.
This finally prompted me to do something I've been meaning to do for a long time - I have converted the few GIF format images on this web site to PNG. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a modern lossless image format that is well suited to replace GIF.
In order to see the PNG images on this site, you must be using a browser that supports PNG. Most do, so you won't have a problem. If your browser does not support PNG, you might want to consider upgrading to a newer version of your browser. If you can't or won't upgrade, you're not missing much. All the interesting images on this site are in JPEG format, anyway.