| GIF is one of the oldest file formats used for graphics | | | | compression algorithms that are patented and not free |
| and digital photos storage. GIF has many technical | | | | to use. GIF became so popular that practically it is |
| advantages but it also has one big business | | | | used in many places without any practical licensing |
| disadvantage. GIF uses LZW compression which is | | | | issues but regardless of the problem being practical |
| tangled with patents and licensing issues. The free | | | | and real it drove some industry groups to get |
| creation and usage of GIF files was always in | | | | organized in order to find a way to solve it once and |
| debate.While GIF is a great format for the storage of | | | | for all.One solution that was suggested and |
| graphics the usage of GIF files represents some | | | | implemented was to create a completely new file |
| licensing issues. Specifically GIF uses the LZW | | | | format that will simply replace the old GIF. |