[tex-live] tldoc

[Karl Berry]

    Using gif files are not licensed at all. The rumour was about
    programming using LZW, but now it is allowed since some years.

As far as I know Unisys granted an exception for gif files only, and for
strictly noncommercial purposes only.
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/gif.html

Has Unisys done something else since?

That does not include "free" software by the definition of the DFSG
which covers a lot of what is on TeX Live.  And TL itself is "sold"
(lawyers could argue) by user groups.

I think it's best to just use jpg and avoid the whole issue.