Is Torque going to be hurt by Forgent Networks?
by Tim Newell · in General Discussion · 07/19/2002 (5:58 am) · 6 replies
For those that dont know, Forgent Networks claimed Pantent on the jpg image format and are requiring license fees for people to use it in a commercial product. They have not yet specifically mentioned games only digital cameras and other images devices, but they could also require license for games. Torque relies pretty heavy on jpegs right now since its one of its most used formats aside from png.
here is a link to Forgent's press release
-Tim aka Spock
here is a link to Forgent's press release
-Tim aka Spock
#2
Fortunately, I've yet to use jpgs in anything in torque and I especially won't now. See ya, jpeg.
07/19/2002 (6:17 am)
Nice move by Forgent. Do something for the online community and once it becomes as common as toilet paper, BAM, "gimmie money".Fortunately, I've yet to use jpgs in anything in torque and I especially won't now. See ya, jpeg.
#3
07/19/2002 (6:39 am)
That patent only covers certain aspect of image compression. If your code/product directly use this particular compression algorithm, you will need to pay license fee. A lot of other companies (IBM/AT&T/Mistubish/intel etc) own some image compression algorithms (such as arithmetic coding)that fall under JPEG too. You are free to use any JPEG library such as this one.
#4
07/19/2002 (6:55 am)
I'm not a legal person but the jpeg library that GarageGames uses falls under one of the GPL agreements. Therefore we have a right to use it for free as per that license if I'm not mistaken.
#5
07/19/2002 (9:13 am)
I usually just use PNG's now.
#6
07/22/2002 (5:39 am)
Even if the library is freely usable, that doesn't mean the format is. Regardless, simply using another format shouldn't be an issue. 
Torque Owner Ryan J. Parker
*Goes and patents parts of OpenGL.*