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By Newsweek Editors
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Last week the Internet was aflame with postings about the future of GIF (Graphics Interchange Format a widely used format for storing graphical images as computer files. The debate on the decision by CompuServe, the nation's largest online service to charge software developers for use of its previously free GIF technology. CompuServe fielded questions in its own forums and on the Net throughout the week, hoping to clear the air over what began is a patent infringement tussle with Unisys (the computer company that owns the patent on a critical piece of the GIF format.) The upshot for end users? GIFs are still free, but competing formats (like JPEG. and others under development) may eventually topple this de facto industry standard.
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