Freakachu: Unisys' stranglehold on the .GIF file format is unusual among the software community, and only based on their questionable patent on the LZW compression algorithm it uses. There are tons of programs out there that generate uncompressed .PDF files and they don't owe Unisys or Adobe squat. Unisys' claim that even decoders should be licensed has most intellectual property attorneys wetting their trousers with laughter. It's moot: the LZW patent is about to expire. Curious would be hard pressed to patent their file formats considering Alias|WaveFront developed the .OBJ language and the underlying syntax these formats depend on. A file format is not a copyrightable entity, and probably not patentable either (but an algorithm is another matter -- and the PTO will be explaining themselves to Congress if they approve another BS 'one-click' patent).