proj-imim:
Re: Site closed, and changes
Sung Chung 2001-Jun-03 19:08:54
I am again pissed off by iPix! When are they going to stop harassing people?
Shouldn't we form a support group against iPix's invasion? I believe that if
we have sufficient proof that PTools does not infringe their so called
patents, we as a whole should be able to back up Helmut both financially and
emotionally. I am certain that they don't want to go all the way because any
negative news for their company means another drop in their stock price.
What they are trying to do is to intimidate us. I hope many of you have the
same thought as I do. Let's not give in yet! Fight for the justice that we
all deserve!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Helmut Dersch" <#removed#>
To: "Immersive Imaging" <#removed#>
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2001 9:26 AM
Subject: Site closed, and changes
> 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
>