Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2024 July 10

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

July 10

DNG patent

I want to know when Adobe's patent for DNG expires. The Wikipedia article has a section about it but no certain expiry date. I think patents expire after 20 years, but I searched the web and couldn't find the filing date, or anything really. Thanks for your help. Commander Keane (talk) 06:53, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Researching, it appears that there are questions about Adobe's claim of a patent. Adobe does have patents, but multiple websites, including the Library of Congress, point to Adobe's self-published "patent license" web page and do not include any information about the patent itself. Of those pages, many point out that there is no patent reference for the patent license. Searching for patents is easy. I can state that there is no patent by Adobe that includes "DNG" in any form. It is a specification for camera raw format files. I found no patents for adobe that include "camera" in the title or body of the text. Therefore, it is difficult to identify which patent, assuming there is a patent, is being referenced by Adobe's "patent license." 75.136.148.8 (talk) 12:50, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Interesting. Can you search "Digital Negative" to be thorough? Commander Keane (talk) 20:44, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

The closest I can find is patent 7636469, which I doubt is the patent Adobe is using for DNG. 75.136.148.8 (talk) 11:52, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Adobe's Digital Negative (DNG) Specification, Version 1.7.1.0, September 2023, opens with the statement: "The Digital Negative (DNG) Specification describes a non-proprietary file format for storing camera raw files that can be used by a wide range of hardware and software vendors."^[1] [my emphasis by underlining. --L.] So while Adobe states that the file format is non-proprietary, at the same time Adobe requires people distributing an implementation of that format to display a prominent notice: "This product includes DNG technology under license by Adobe." It does not make sense.  --Lambiam 17:59, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Well if you are not using the "license" then you would not have to display that message. But you should also look out for trademark restrictions. I suspect it is a variation of a paid license, but no pay is required to use this. Perhaps you could have a compatible product without a claim that it was. If you seriously want to develop a product, use the specification and not put on the notice, I suggest you consult a lawyer. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 02:04, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

I think only seasoned lawyers can interpret the language of Adobe's DNG Specification patent license. As I (but IANAL) interpret it, the text does not imply that this is a patent licence in the sense of a licence granted by a patent owner. The requirement of the prominent notice applies to all licensees who distribute a compatible product regardless of any claims they make (other than the notice itself). Again, IANAL, but I can't think of a legal argument why a vendor of a compatible implementation should avail themselves of this weird licence.  --Lambiam 06:59, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Although I was just generally curious an application would be phab:T21153. So WMF legal should be consulted? Commander Keane (talk) 02:49, 12 July 2024 (UTC)