Last year there was information about rANS patent ( http://cbloomrants.blogspot.com/2015...e-fucking.html ), it is now published:
https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Case/...er/GB1502286.6
https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Docum...20document.pdf
Here is a timeline for UK Patent application: http://www.withersrogers.com/wp-cont..._time_line.pdf
It seems extremely general:
Title: "System and method for compressing data using asymmetric numeral systems with probability distributions"
Abstract: "A data compression method using the range variant of Asymmetric Numeral Systems, rANS, to encode a data stream, where the probability distribution table(s) used is constructed using a Markov model. A plurality of probability distribution tables may be used each constructed from a subset of the data stream and each used to encode another subset of the data stream. The probability distribution table may compromise a special code (or 'escape code') which marks a temporary switch to second probability distribution table. The probability distribution table itself may be stored in a compressed format. The data stream may be information containing gene sequences or related information."
How to fight it?
update: there is also US patent application - http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2016/0248440.html
update1: editable Google doc to reply to the patent - please add a short description about your earlier than 11.02.2015 connected compressor (or some you know, or e.g. paper) - emphasizing similarities:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-86_o0fzTHs6TyU4TaF-ufOZ4Xr3zEskyLYI6Nehavw/edit
update2: non-final rejection for the US application with comments from USPTO expert:
https://register.epo.org/ipfwretrieve?apn=US.201615041228.A&lng=en
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...1479580692.pdf