2006.11.25 01:53 "Re: [Tiff] Windows HD Photo - any interest?", by Brad Hards

On Saturday 25 November 2006 10:06, Bob Friesenhahn wrote:

Currently libtiff does not contain any algorithms protected by a patent (to the best of our knowledge). This allows it to be distributed for any application. Is the Windows HD Photo codec protected by any Microsoft (or other vendor ) patents?

There are probably some patents that are at least partly applicable. Probably the cleanest way is to get Microsoft to provide a statement about whether there are any (that they know of), and if so, whether they are willing to provide a royalty free license. If there are (or might be) some, and they aren't willing to make an explicit license grant, then it is probably a dead format anyway, and not worth implementing.

The JBIG2 codec is also interesting, but implementing support for it is discouraged by protective patents.

I think there will always be some patent issues - just a matter of how enforceable and what licenses you can get. For example, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG#Potential_patent_issues

I'll send a query to the contact email address at Microsoft.

Brad