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31 Lawsuits Filed Over Alleged JPEG Patent
dcrouch writes "Compression Labs has initiated a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas against 31 major companies for infringement of its 4,698,672 patent. The patent, filed in 1986, includes 46 claims for various embodiments of digital signal compression technology and reportedly covers JPEG compression. From the dates on the face of the patent, it appears that it will expire in October 2004. This looming date may have prompted the suit. Compression Labs will certainly have a fight on its hands. A major question will be why the patentee waited so long to stake its claim. The Eastern District of Texas court has established special patent rules that help speed the progression of litigation."
Hello,
Recently I've been introduced to an operating system known as Linux.
Lured by its low cost, I replaced Windows 98 on my computer with
Linux. Unfortunately the more I use it the more I fear that this
"Linux" may be an insidious way for the Dark One to gain a stronger
foothold here on Earth. I know this may be a shocking claim, but I
have evidence to back it up!
To begin with, Linux runs numerous background processes. These
processes are usettlingly termed "demons." Furthermore in order to
start or stop these "demons" a user must execute a command called
"finger". By "fingering" a "demon" one excercises an unholy power,
much the same way that the Lord of Flies controls his black minions.
Also consider some of these other Linux commands: "sleep", "mount",
"unzip", "strip" and "touch". All highly suggestive in a sexual
nature. I know that our Lord cannot approve of these, and I urge them
to be renamed to something appropriate to the Christian community.
Third, Linux uses a flavor of DOS known as Bash. Bash is an acronym
for "Bourne Again Shell". On the surface this would appear to be
supportive of the Lord. However, remember that even Satan can quote
the bible for his own purposes! While I believe Linux may be
born-again, its obvious by the misspelling of "born" that its not
born-again in an Christian church. Will the lies ever cease?
Additionally, one of the main people involved with the GNU Free
Software Foundation supports contraception and abortion. His web site
even advocates government support of contraception. He also wears fake
halos, and has quips about his made-up church that relates to his free
software. I find such blasphemy to be extremely unsettling.
One must also remember that the creator of Linux, a college student
named Linux Torvaldis, comes from Finland. I'm sure all the followers
of Christ are aware of the heritical nature of the Finnish: from
necrophilia to human sacrifice, Finnish culture is awash in sin. I
find little reason to believe anything good and holy could arise from
this evil land.
Finally, let us remember that there is an alternative to using the
Satan-powered Linux. I think history has shown us that Microsoft is
quite holy. I'm told that its founder, William Gates is a strong
supporter of our Lord and I encourage my fellow Christians to buy only
his products to help keep the Devil at bay.
I wish I had more time to expound upon my findings. Unfortunately a
family of Jews has moved in across the street and I must go speak to
them of Jesus Christ before they are condemned to eternal hellfire.
Please investigate this as you see fit and I'm sure you'll reach the
same conclusions that I have.
Thank goodness I use PNG.
FP?
JPEG is an infected format and must be burnt!
<ob_grammar_nazi>
Leverage is a noun, not a verb. The word you're looking for is lever.
</ob_grammar_nazi>
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
Why can't people just get along? We do share the same planet
How about joining the society against raping the word "rape"?
irb(main):001:0>
I'm begning to be feed up with this sites focus, it has become all about stuff that no true nerd care about.
....
I bet 25 % of the articles published is mostly legal/political news one way or another, 25 % MS bashing and the rest is not that exciting either
Is there any other independant site that publish just cool sci/tech news without an political agenda ?
Off topic?!?!??!?!?!?
Can you imagine the compression with this format?
I'm switching everthing now.
Crack-head Mods!!!!
The level of "sticking your tongue out and wasting mod points" is also high in the morning. Only an AC would make a statement like that. My point was not in "incompetance of reading your article" it was in the clarity of a quick view of your statement - it is YOUR responsibility to make your comments easy to read and easy to understand if you expect high moderation. The parent was a troll at best.
Steve Wozniak and Linus Trovalds. Notably absent: Michael Dell.
THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
TOM is meant for pepsi.... need more pepsi....
Pervert.
Never confuse volume with power.