Rockwell sound format

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On Feb 4,  4:51, "Peter Bechtold" wrote:
} Subject: Re: Rockwell sound format

} > > but supposed I had done this decryption, and had a conversion tool: 
} > > would it be legal to distribute this in source ?

} > I'm not perfectly sure, but I'd say yes. As far as I know, such reverse-
} > engineering is legal.
 
} As far as I know, it is possible to get a patent on encryption algorithms,
} in which case it would be illegal to do such reverse-engineering.

Well, sorta.  It is certainly possible to get a patent on an encryption
algorithm.  UNISYS owns LZW (compress and gif).  On the other hand,
unless the encryption algorithm is bidirectional, decryption would have
to be patented separately to be protected.

But, I don't think you can patent a *format*.  So if you figured out
the format from looking at it, you're okay.  If you figured out the
format from watching a decryptor operate, you'd probably also be
safe provided you didn't copy *how* the decryptor did it (copyright
and/or patent violation)

-- 
Chris Lewis: _Una confibula non sat est_
Phone: Canada 613 832-0541
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