Message-Id: <200205081906.g48J6S726681@sitelicense.arizona.edu> Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 15:06:18 -0400 From: Larry Wentzel <mailto:lrw5@PSU.EDU> Subject: Re: LZW compression To: mailto:IMAGELIB@listserv.arizona.edu
<pre>
>I have read that the Unisys patent on LZW compression will expire soon (ca.
>2003). If this is so, I am curious whether readers of this list would
>consider TIFF with LZW compression a viable archival file format for images.
>The question in my mind is whether we expect the LZW format to be widespread
>enough that TIFF/LZW files can be accessed and read in the relatively far
>future. If not, are there other lossless compression formats that might be
>considered for long-term storage?
I believe the issue with compression in general is not about patents and
rights, but about long-term function. The possibility exists that X number
of years down the road, you could have a compressed image file but have no
way to decompress it, because the compression/decompression software has
long since fallen by the wayside. Should LZW become an integral part of
TIFF file functionality, then that's a different matter. But that's a
bridge yet to be crossed.
--Larry Wentzel
--Digital Preservation Coordinator
--Penn State University Libraries
</pre>
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