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PKWare Files a Patent Application for Secure .zip

Posted by michael on from the dumb-de-dumb-dumb dept.

prostoalex writes "The battle of ZIP formats might intensify as PKWare filed an application with USPTO to obtain a patent on its Secure Zip technology, which pretty much involves archiving with strong cryptography. If the patent gets granted, PKWare will license its algorithms for other software manufacturers. A representative of Aladdin Systems summed it up: "The good thing about the .zip file format was that you knew you could send it to everyone. Now that's getting broke.""

5 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. That's fine and all.... by flewp · · Score: 5, Funny

    but I want a secure zipper. So many people are trying to get into my pants it's outrageous.

    --
    WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
  2. Ironic quote from Aladdin Systems by extrarice · · Score: 3, Funny

    [quote]
    A representative of Aladdin Systems summed it up: "The good thing about the .zip file format was that you knew you could send it to everyone. Now that's getting broke."
    [/quote]

    This quote is funny coming from a company that sells a competing compression format (.sit)

    --
    "Jesus saves, but everyone else in a 10 foot radius takes full damage from the fireball."
  3. Text compression by smeenz · · Score: 5, Funny



    It's good to see Aladdin Systems are demonstrating their lossy text compression technology by saying that the ZIP format is "getting broke" rather than "getting broken"

    </tongue>

  4. Zip+encryption? by AnotherBlackHat · · Score: 3, Funny

    Gotta wonder how they got that past the examiner.
    "No no, pkzip isn't prior art... the patent only covers the novel idea of using strong encryption"

    -- this is not a .sig

  5. Re:Use PGP by yintercept · · Score: 4, Funny

    Of course, if this is one of those "we've patented the world" claims, then any program that produces an encrypted file that is smaller than the original would be in violation of the patent.

    There is still room for encryption programs that make files bigger. I've been thinking of making a program that would automatically pad a document with additional legal verbiage and routinely add one billable hour, and see if I could sell it to the legal community.