PKWare Files a Patent Application for Secure .zip 281
prostoalex writes "The battle of ZIP formats might intensify as PKWare filed an application with USPTO to obtain a patent on its Secure Zip technology, which pretty much involves archiving with strong cryptography. If the patent gets granted, PKWare will license its algorithms for other software manufacturers. A representative of Aladdin Systems summed it up: "The good thing about the .zip file format was that you knew you could send it to everyone. Now that's getting broke.""
That's fine and all.... (Score:5, Funny)
Ironic quote from Aladdin Systems (Score:3, Funny)
A representative of Aladdin Systems summed it up: "The good thing about the
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This quote is funny coming from a company that sells a competing compression format (.sit)
Text compression (Score:5, Funny)
It's good to see Aladdin Systems are demonstrating their lossy text compression technology by saying that the ZIP format is "getting broke" rather than "getting broken"
</tongue>
Re:OSS To The Rescue? (Score:1, Funny)
(AFAIK, there are no similar solutions for the Mac. One of the many reasons why the "first 64-bit desktop computer" is still utterly useless.
Re:That's fine and all.... (Score:2, Funny)
Zip+encryption? (Score:4, Funny)
"No no, pkzip isn't prior art... the patent only covers the novel idea of using strong encryption"
-- this is not a
Re:does this bother you? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Use PGP (Score:5, Funny)
There is still room for encryption programs that make files bigger. I've been thinking of making a program that would automatically pad a document with additional legal verbiage and routinely add one billable hour, and see if I could sell it to the legal community.
Re:i thought good cyphertext can't be compressed (Score:2, Funny)
Expert or not, you should know what's coming out of your ass at all times.
The whole method? (Score:3, Funny)
Who would patent just half the method?
I sure hope he didn't mean they're trying to patent the entire concept of encrypting zip files regardless of the algorithm or method. Because I've been encrypting zip files (among many other types) for a decade.
I've already got (Score:2, Funny)
somestuff.zip.pgp
whoah! what a concept!