Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site imsvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!hao!seismo!umcp-cs!cvl!elsie!imsvax!rcc From: rcc@imsvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro.pc,net.unix Subject: Re: (Almost-Public)-Domain PC/IX Software Message-ID: <225@imsvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 16-Aug-84 12:52:33 EDT Article-I.D.: imsvax.225 Posted: Thu Aug 16 12:52:33 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 19-Aug-84 02:49:05 EDT References: <12428@sri-arpa.UUCP> Organization: IMS Inc, Rockville MD Lines: 33 >For VI, though its authors swear it is public domain, the >Regents of the U of C (who paid the bills and distribute BSD >stuff) want not to upset AT&T. AT&T claims that VI is "now" >considered part of UNIX, and my company's license with AT&T thus >requires that I only distribute the VI to folks who posess a valid >source license. I think AT&T is full of it. Legally, I think AT&T has two claims on vi. First, vi is based on ed, and therefore protected by trade secrets just like a lot of 4.xBSD. This alone, though, would give AT&T no right to say that vi is "part" of their UNIX. Second, Mark Horton, one of the (many) original authors works for AT&T now and has been maintaining vi. If AT&T has been paying him for this, then they probably have a claim on the versions that he's turned out since he started at AT&T, provided that any additional work done by others in the released version was done by AT&T people or some sort of agreement was reached with the other contributors. If this is the case, though, then there do exist versions of vi that AT&T has no second claim on. Any opinions from netland? Mark, if you're reading this, when (if ever) did AT&T start paying you to maintain vi? What would have to be hacked out of/replaced in vi to make it totally public domain? -- The preceding message was brought to you by -- Ray Chen UUCP: {umcp-cs!eneevax || seismo!rlgvax!elsie}!imsvax!rcc USnail: Integrated Microcomputer Systems, Inc. Suite 400 6100 Executive Blvd. Rockville, MD 20852