[Scribus] Inkscape and Gimp

[PLinnell]

On Friday 02 June 2006 23:32, Christoph Sch?fer wrote:
> Am Freitag, 2. Juni 2006 07:04 schrieb Christopher Sawtell:
> > On Friday 02 June 2006 03:43, pixelnate wrote:
> > > >> I think it would be a great feature if scribus could import
> > > >> directly from Inkscape and Gimp as happens to Adobe
> > > >> applications. Some kind of interativity among the programs.
> > > >> S?lvio
> > >
> > > Another great feature would be cmyk support in both programs,
> > > also like in the Adobe Creative Suite. I would much rather see
> > > that happen than to get a 'smart objects' feature in each.
> >
> > Wouldn't we all, but note:-
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantone
> > http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5283671.html
>
> The problem with spot colours is that they are protected by
> copyrights. While I originally thought this is ridiculous, I have
> to admit that it seems reasonable to me now. Companies like Pantone
> put a huge amount of work in reliable colour values (and tables)
> for output on different devices and on different surfaces. This is
> _not_ easy. But the idea of spot colours itself is not patented. It
> would be worthwhile to create a free spot colour library, but this
> takes time, a _lot_ of work and expensive equipment for testing
> purposes.
>

This is something we have already discussed on the create project 
which was an offshoot of some of the Scribus and Inkscape developer's 
IRC chats. 

> As for using the CMYK colour space, this isn't problem at all.
> Scribus does this for quite some time now. That doesn't mean a
> litigous company, some kind of "graphics SCO", will one day _not_
> think about suing FOSS projects for implementing spot colours or
> MYK, but none of the Scribus developers is living in the United
> States. How would a U.S. law firm try to enforce bogus patents in a
> European jurisdiction where software patents are invalid?
>
> > Which mean that you will have to offer those additions as patches
> > delivered from a Free World country.
> >
> > It's the Intellectual Property Dictatorship which should be
> > ashamed of itself, not some poor little, law abiding, FLOSS
> > author.
>
> Be careful with your wording. In Common Law countries "intellectual
> property" laws are the only means of defending FOSS! In Roman Law
> countries the concept doesn't exist, but the author's rights
> applied here provide similar means of defending the freedom of
> software. That doesn't mean I want to justify the excesses of MPAA,
> BSA and other extortionionists, but IMHO you have to look at both
> sides of the coin.
>
> And, again, implementing CMYK or CIELab (a public standard!) is not
> prevented by any (U.S.) patents.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Christoph

By the way, the list may not be aware that we have started a new 
Scribus Developer's blog at http://rants.scribus.net

This whole thread has motivated me to write a longish essay about this 
very topic and I hope you will all find it enlightening. 

Peter