Path: utzoo!utgpu!utstat!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!ucsfcgl!cca.ucsf.edu!root From: root@cca.ucsf.edu (Systems Staff) Newsgroups: comp.sources.d Subject: Re: status of 4.3 math library (libm) Summary: A little clarification Message-ID: <2520@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu> Date: 24 Oct 89 09:39:34 GMT References: <3967.25420f0d@uwovax.uwo.ca> <2050@prune.bbn.com> Organization: Computer Center, UCSF Lines: 51 In article <2050@prune.bbn.com>, rsalz@bbn.com (Rich Salz) writes: > >Is the 4.3 BSD math library freely redistributable? I've seen it on some > >comp.sources.unix archive sites, but others don't have it or have the > >legend "NOT AVAILABLE" in the index. > > NO! > > The bulk of the library was written by people at UCB -- all but three > functions. Unfortunately, the UCB authors were NOT McKusicK, Bostic, > and the usual crew. Among other things, this meant they were much > less careful about copyrights, code licensing, and so on, so they just > slapped THEIR copyright on all the code, and turned it over for release. Not quite that gross ... The original plan seems to have been to write a complete replacement library and the documentation (manual) was written reflecting this but the project didn't get completed and a few AT&T functions were left in. But the manual didn't get changed. The manual announcement stated that the math library was freely distributable and nothing indicated to the contrary. Unfortunately, the AT&T code which formed the basis for the BSD development was distributed under trade secret restrictions and so didn't have any copyright notices. Thus the precautionary check for AT&T copyright notices didn't show any restriction so out it all went as authorized by the printed documentation. > As I result, the person who submitted it to me was led astray, so was I, ^--------^ yours truly, in case you hadn't figured it out > ... > At some point there MAY be a reimplementation and a distribution, but > not yet. I still have hopes. Thos Sumner Internet: thos@cca.ucsf.edu (The I.G.) UUCP: ...ucbvax!ucsfcgl!cca.ucsf!thos BITNET: thos@ucsfcca U.S. Mail: Thos Sumner, Computer Center, Rm U-76, UCSF San Francisco, CA 94143-0704 USA I hear nothing in life is certain but death and taxes -- and they're working on death. #include