Evan Yares heads up the Open Design Alliance, and had been wondering how Autodesk could continue using DGN translators without a licence from his organization. Randall Newton exposes the solution: "Autodesk to Discontinue 2005 Infrastructure Products to Avoid DGN Entanglement with Open Design Alliance" (ODA).
Autodesk had been using the DGN code from ODA member Safe Software, but is now currently alpha-testing its own DGN translator. For AutoCAD, it looks like it'll place the DGN files in drawings like an image or DWF attachment, and will be limited to 2D drawings only.
Isn't it hypocritical to call ODA the "arms merchant to my enemy", while supporting DGN ?
Posted by: Tony Tanzillo | Apr 26, 2006 at 06:35 PM
To clarify: Autodesk has been using DGNdirect, with no license, and without the approval of the Open Design Alliance. Further, Autodesk has been unresponsive to these issues.
Posted by: Evan Yares | Apr 27, 2006 at 02:36 AM
This is the same company that just got convicted of stealing and profiting from another company's patent. Hmm.... Looks like they don't exactly practice what they preach.
Posted by: D Dearborn | Apr 27, 2006 at 12:14 PM