Outrage in Cyberspace: CompuServe and the GIF Patent

Josh   Lerner; Benjamin  Conway

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Case | HBS Case Collection | January 1996

Outrage in Cyberspace: CompuServe and the GIF Patent

by Josh Lerner and Benjamin Conway

Abstract

CompuServe, an online services vendor, informs its software developers that they must enter into a licensing agreement to use the popular GIF compression. CompuServe claims that it is forced to do so because Unisys is enforcing its patent rights in this area. Others argue that CompuServe's move is a response to the growing competitive challenge posed by the Internet.

Keywords: Patents; Technological Innovation; Internet; Information Technology; Competitive Strategy; Search Technology; Web Services Industry;

Format: Print

31 pages

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