[vtk-developers] vtkPowerCrustSurfaceReconstruction

[Ken Martin]

Hey Folk,

As a general note to all developers. Please be careful not to put any
GPL or LGPL code into VTK. If you know of GPL'd code in VTK, bring it
to our attention so we can correct the situation. In most cases where
we have wanted to add GPL'd code, the authors of the code have been
willing to let us use it under a BSD type license (which is the same
basic license as VTK). Since it sounds like the folks at the
University of Texas disagree we cannot use their code. (which is a
shame because having their algorithm in VTK brings advantages both to
VTK and to them) We could use a reimplementation of their algorithms
based on their papers as long as they have not patented their
algorithms (since they said is was publicly funded I assume they would
not patent it, but it is best to check). Frequently by the time the
code has been fully integrated and cleaned up it is almost a rewrite
anyhow. If you end up doing a rewrite it is worth documenting that it
is a clean implementation done at U of T's insistence. I'm sure it
would be a popular class.

On a related note for long term planning. I am suggesting removing the
patented directory and classes at the end of next year. The key
algorithm in the patented directory is marching cubes and its patent
expires Dec 2003. At that point I'd like to move that code into the
main tree and remove the other patented classes, which I do not think
the VTK community should be maintaining. That will also clear up a
number of patented, questions, issues, etc. and make VTK all fall
under a BSD license with no exceptions.

Thanks
Ken