Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!agate!linus!linus!ramsdell From: ramsdell@mitre.org (John D. Ramsdell) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Boycott NeXT offerings that include a free copy of Lotus Improv Message-ID: Date: 7 Nov 90 17:47:52 GMT References: Sender: ramsdell@linus.mitre.org Reply-To: ramsdell@mitre.org Organization: Mitre Corporation, Bedford, MA. Lines: 37 In-reply-to: kh2v+@andrew.cmu.edu's message of 5 Nov 90 23:14:46 GMT The complete reference to the article explaining the dangers of interface copyright is "Against User Interface Copyright" by Richard Stallman and Simson Garfinkel, Communications of the ACM, November 1990, Vol. 33, No. 11, pp. 15-18. In article kh2v+@andrew.cmu.edu (Keith Hawkins) writes: Can someone explain what all the fury is concerning Lotus Improv and the 040 upgrades to someone who has just got on the NeXT bandwagon. i.e. What sin has NeXT and/or Lotus committed? Just wondering. Lotus is one of the companies that is using the courts to expand the domain of copyright law into the area of user interfaces. NeXT Computer, Inc. has been promoting Lotus software in their resent sales campaign. For example, the literature NeXT sent to me states: For a limited time, customers who upgrade their system with a 68040 processor board will receive a free copy of Lotus Improv. I hope you will join me and wait until after the offer expires before ordering upgrades from NeXT. Even if you do not join me, please take the time to write to the following subcommitties about your fears relating to interface copyright: House Subcommittee on Intellectual Property 2137 Rayburn Bldg Washington, DC 20515 Senate Subcommittee on Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 John