Some time has passed since I last wrote about the antics of the IJG, purveyor of the well-known JPEG image manipulation library. With the major Linux distributions as well as the Firefox and Chrome browsers having switched to the libjpeg-turbo fork, there has been little reason to pay attention to the IJG. Nevertheless, I decided to have a look at what they’ve been doing the last few years, and I was not disappointed.
On the technical side, nothing noteworthy has happened. Apart from the expected bug-fixes, changes are limited to the addition of a few minor, non-standard extensions. Should this be disappointing, the non-technical developments are all the more entertaining.
Apparently upset by libjpeg-turbo gaining traction, the IJG maintainer added, in the January 2012 release of v8d, a short rant seemingly directed against the former. Those who remember Jörg Schilling crying foul over forked versions of his cdrecord software will find the style familiar. In response, the libjpeg-turbo author posted a thorough rebuttal, and the two following years were peaceful.
In January 2014, IJG released libjpeg v9a, and this time they have stepped up the game. It begins on the new “development site” by declaring this release “the first true source reference JPEG codec.” Upon reading this, my first thought is about Baptist churches.
When I’ve stopped laughing, I grab a copy of the source archive and open the README file within. After scrolling through the various (slightly tweaked in this release) stabs at ISO, I find a few new paragraphs added at the end, and my troubles are finally well rewarded.
According to the UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) law, IJG has the lawful and legal right to foreclose on certain standardization bodies and other institutions or corporations that knowingly perform substantial and systematic deceptive acts and practices, fraud, theft, and damaging of the value of the people of this planet without their knowing, willing and intentional consent.
The titles, ownership, and rights of these institutions and all their assets are now duly secured and held in trust for the free people of this planet. People of the planet, on every country, may have a financial interest in the assets of these former principals, agents, and beneficiaries of the foreclosed institutions and corporations.
IJG asserts what is: that each man, woman, and child has unalienable value and rights granted and deposited in them by the Creator and not any one of the people is subordinate to any artificial principality, corporate fiction or the special interest of another without their appropriate knowing, willing and intentional consent made by contract or accommodation agreement.
IJG expresses that which already was. The people have already determined and demanded that public administration entities, national governments, and their supporting judicial systems must be fully transparent, accountable, and liable.
IJG has secured the value for all concerned free people of the planet.
A partial list of foreclosed institutions and corporations (“Hall of Shame”) is currently prepared and will be published later.
Later, perhaps on Judgement Day.
I’m guessing he can do this under his “Freeman of the Land” rights.