Date   : Sat, 16 May 1987 12:20:00 EDT
From   : <V125KJG8%UBVMS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Copyright status of ARC, LZW,

>I thought the L-Z compression algorithm was published in a journal for
>all to see.  Furthermore, I may be wrong, but it is my understanding
>that one cannot patent algorithms (being "laws of nature"), although
>one can patent realizations of an algorithm. So if I read the journal
>article and went off and wrote a C program based on the algorithm I'd
>have no problems.
>
>Disclaimer: I may be talking rubbish.  Anybody know better?

Considering that I have a copy of CRUNCH v 2.3 that I received as public
domain from a local bulletin board, I don't think you will have any problems.
I have also seen an UNARC algorithm coded into a VAX FORTRAN algorithm
(received
from SIMTEL20).  That is the best I can provide...

  --Curtis