Re: [matplotlib-devel] Re: Marching Squares Algorithm

[Perry G. <pe...@st...>]

On Oct 28, 2004, at 4:58 PM, Robert Kern wrote:

> gary ruben wrote:
>> True, I didn't pay much attention to licencing. In light of it 
>> though, here
>> are a couple more links to a couple of gentlemen who may be worth
>> grovelling to should the need arise. No specific licencing is 
>> mentioned.
>> <http://mahi.ucsd.edu/parker/Software/>
>
> Actually, having seen this code and the gist code, I'd recommend 
> waiting  for the gist-derived prototype.
>
> To muddy the waters a bit, the gist contouring algorithm looks to my 
> eye like Paul Bourke's CONREC algorithm, which may or may not be 
> patented.
>
Which gist contouring routine are you referring to? It appears to use 
two separate
implementations for different contour functions. We are using the code 
in gcntr.c.
If that is based on Bourke's routine, there shouldn't be a problem. 
None of the code
that uses it makes any reference to a patent; there appear to be a 
number of other
implementations, none of which appear to have been challenged. As far 
as patent
rights go, aren't they only good for 17 years? It was published in July 
1987
(though I suppose it may derive from when it was granted, not 
published).
Then there is copyright, but that doesn't guard against 
reimplementation so
long as code isn't copied (But I am not a lawy...).

Perry