proj-imim:
Site closed, and changes
Helmut Dersch 2001-Jun-03 15:26:11
After the recent discussions about ipix's
european patents I received a serious warning that
ipix is planning to go after me again as soon
as their fisheye patent gets through, which
they expect any day. They are rattling their
legal swords again and are intimidating US-sites
that exhibit links to my website.
As I mentioned recently, it is my firm believe
that PT does not infringe any of their patents.
Unfortunately, I am currently not in the position
to defend this view. Neither do I have the resources,
nor the time, nor the nerves for this. As a cautionary
measure, I temporarily closed my website. It will be
reopened, with many changes. This will take some
time, and it also means, that I can not keep any
of the promises regarding updates and improvements.
The biggest change will affect PTStitcher and the
Panorama Tools. I am planning and suggesting a
procedure similar to the distribution method
of graphics programs like 'The Gimp'. This program
has to cope with GIF images and the corresponding
Unisys patent. The solution is to distribute a
basic no-GIF version of 'The Gimp'. For users in
'no-Unisys' countries ( ie where Unisys has no patent),
there is an optional plug-in to enable GIF. The download
site (which is also the main Gimp download site) is
in Finland, which happens to be such a 'no-Unisys'
country. In some countries (like Germany), the private
royalty-free use of any patent is allowed, so that
even some users in 'unisys-countries' might
be allowed to legally take advantage of this.
So on my website, there will only be a 'No_Fisheye'
version of Panorama Tools and PTStitcher (actually,
this functionality resides in the common library
pano12.dll/lib). The sources and a 'Fisheye' version
of pano12.dll/lib could then be downloaded from and to
'noipix' countries. People who want to use the
correction capabilities of Panorama Tools, or
who are using PTStitcher as a multirow-stitcher
for rectilinear images etc, ie who do not need fisheye
conversions, can then use my software
without constant threat from this fine company.
All others have to decide for themselves.
Suggestions and comments, especially regarding
suitable servers are welcome.
The PTViewer license will be changed and be
more open. On Webpages using the applet, no
link to my own website is required. Also,
I do no longer plan to charge shareware fees
for PTMViewer, the extension to display
QTVR-files within PTViewer. It is free to use
like the rest of PTViewer. These changes take
effect immediately, and also apply to previous
versions.
The Object and 3D-related software (PTStripe,
PTStereo, ...) will be distributed unchanged.
Regards
Helmut Dersch