Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!iuvax!mailrus!sharkey!itivax!scs
From: scs@itivax.iti.org (Steve Simmons)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: The OSF is *what*?
Message-ID: <3681@itivax.iti.org>
Date: 13 Sep 89 12:52:02 GMT
References: <8909130635.AA29672@Larry.McRCIM.McGill.EDU>
Organization: Industrial Technology Institute, Ann Arbor, MI.
Lines: 28

mouse@LARRY.MCRCIM.MCGILL.EDU (der Mouse) writes:

>> From: inco!mack@uunet.uu.net  (Dave Mack)

>> I just received a phone call from a very nice gentleman at OSF,
>> explaining that the code chunk I posted as an example of the sort of
>> thing that was killing mwm is Copyrighted, and that, while OSF is not
>> suing me, I will be getting a letter from their lawyers.  He was most
>> apologetic about this, but OSF is apparently extremely concerned
>> about the possibility of Motif accidentally slipping into the public
>> domain.

>I knew I wasn't going to actively pursue OSF stuff, but this is
>ridiculous!
   [[and goes on to describe the original quote as 'trivial', then
    flames OSF for sending the letter.]]

Mouse, while I sympathise with your outrage it is misdirected.  The
legal system has been twisted to the point that *any* undefended abrogation
of copyright is grist for some *ssh*le to try and lever the whole thing
into non-copywritten status.  OSF is doing what is *has* to in order to
defend their copyright.  The original poster notes that OSF is being
very circumspect and apologetic about it, and he does not seem particularly
offended.
-- 
Steve Simmons		          scs@vax3.iti.org
Industrial Technology Institute     Ann Arbor, MI.
"Velveeta -- the Spam of Cheeses!" -- Uncle Bonsai