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000354_news@newsmaster….columbia.edu _Thu Jun 26 07:40:46 1997.msg
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From: steve@Watt.COM (Steve Watt -- KD6GGD)
Subject: Re: Availability of C-Kermit 6 for LynxOS
Message-ID: <ECDqxM.IKz@Watt.COM>
Organization: Watt Consultants, San Jose, CA, USA
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 11:08:10 GMT
References: <33B04526.6C8F@gstworld.net.nospam> <ECBEMH.Ftu@Watt.COM> <5or8op$s9m$1@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu>
Followup-To: poster
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[ Followups to me -- I get the feeling this could get nasty(ier?) for some
reason. ]
[ Caution: It's 4am, so this might sound flame-ish. Wish I could sleep. ]
In article <5or8op$s9m$1@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu>,
Frank da Cruz <fdc@watsun.cc.columbia.edu> wrote:
>In article <ECBEMH.Ftu@Watt.COM>, Steve Watt -- KD6GGD <steve@Watt.COM> wrote:
>: In article <33B04526.6C8F@gstworld.net.nospam>,
>: Brett Hunsaker <bhunsaker@gstworld.net> wrote:
bhunsaker> [ using old C-Kermit 4C(058) on LynxOS, wants newer ]
steve> You can get a more current one from Columbia University
steve> The reason that 4C is shipped with LynxOS is that it's very nearly the
steve> last version that was freely distributable. Since then, the licensing
steve> terms have changed so that vendors may not include kermit in products.
fdc> If the LynxOS company would let me give away their products to my users,
fdc> maybe I'd have some sympathy for that position.
I suspect it could be arranged for you to give away LynxOS 1.0. I'm not
sure you *could*, though. I think it only ran on a proprietary board. ;)
[ deletia ]
fdc> Lynx customers should encourage the company to do the right thing: either
fdc> make an honorable agreement with us to distribute our software, or else
stop
fdc> doing it.
A few points:
1. As far as I know, you cannot retroactively change the licensing of a
piece of software, which is your implication of "an honorable agreement"
-- there is no agreement required for the version that Lynx is shipping.
I quote from ckcmai.c, 4C(058) 19 Mar 86:
/*
Copyright (C) 1985, Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York.
Permission is granted to any individual or institution to use, copy, or
redistribute this software so long as it is not sold for profit, provided this
copyright notice is retained.
*/
(Fortunately, I know that Lynx' legal folks don't read USENET -- your
implication of that distribution as being less than honorable is almost
certainly libelous.)
2. When I queried about this, I was told that the legal department had
contacted Columbia and found the terms of distribution for the new
versions unacceptable, but I don't know the details. What are the
commercial terms? Is there a licensing fee of some sort? If not,
I suspect that decision can be revisited, since there's been 100%
turnover in the legal department since then. Lynx is a fairly small
company, so if there is a significant licensing fee, I'd expect the
current practice to continue. Or if you wish (and can provide some
manner of active discouragement, like a sentence somewhere that
makes my point 1 false), I suspect distribution could be stopped
entirely. Active discouragement may not even be needed; asking works.
3. I suppose, to some extent, it's telling of the high quality of the
old version (not to impugn the newer ones) that this is the first
time *I've* heard someone ask for the new version. Or else this
is the first time someone's wanted it that didn't know where to find
it. Either way, C-Kermit is a *great* piece of work.
--
Steve Watt KD6GGD PP-ASEL-IA Packet: KD6GGD @ N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
ICBM: 121W 56' 58.1" / 37N 20' 14.2" Internet: steve @ Watt.COM
Free time? There's no such thing. It just comes in varying prices...