File Formats Blog

Nikon reportedly has started encrypting the white balance information in its raw camera files. This means that any third-party conversion software that doesn't break the encryption can't include that information when converting pictures from the D2X and D2H cameras. Anyone breaking it might risk a DMCA lawsuit.

(Found by way of Slashdot.)

# posted by Gary McGath @ 1:17 PM 0 comments

According to an article on CNET news, Forgent is filing lawsuits which claim that if you create JPEG files without getting a license from them, you're violating their patent. The most recent of these suits is against Microsoft. Like most software patents, it's unintelligible on a casual reading, but it clearly describes a compression method. If this patent is upheld, JPEG will become a proprietary, licensed format, just as GIF formerly was. Microsoft claims that Forgent "is subverting the JPEG standard to extract millions of dollars in unwarranted profits."

• The case against software patents (OSNews)
• Patent litigants target DVR's (CNET news)
• Forgent readies post-JPEG patent targets (eWeek)

# posted by Gary McGath @ 2:02 PM 1 comments

A new release of PHP has been announced to deal with a variety of issues, including a security hole in the PHP Exif module. According to a Computerworld article, a malicious IFD could generate a buffer overflow resulting in the execution of arbitrary code. The article seems to imply that this is a cross-platform vulnerability.

# posted by Gary McGath @ 3:35 PM 0 comments

Congress has begun looking into the notion of mandating file formats.

A U.S. House subcommittee, headed by Lamar Smith of Texas, is considering the idea of making music players illegal if they don't support specified file formats. Smith is quoted as saying that "the interoperability issue is of concern to me, since consumers who bought legal copies of music from Real could not play them on an iPod." While the article doesn't say which formats would be mandated, it appears from this quote that Real Networks' format is one which Smith would like to force on everyone.

Some members of Congress favored mandated warning labels -- in effect, compulsory self-denigration and free advertising for Real -- rather than mandating specific technology outright.

Apple didn't appear to grovel at Smith's feet, and he adopted a petulant tone, declaring it was a "mistake" for them not to show up.

• Apple is no-show at music compatibility hearing (Macworld UK)
• A law mandating music file compatibility? (internetnews.com)

# posted by Gary McGath @ 1:21 PM 0 comments