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From: rdominy@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Robert Dominy)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: CLIPS
Message-ID: <3917@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Date: 14 Nov 90 19:11:03 GMT
Sender: news@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
Distribution: usa
Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Lines: 44
References:<1990Nov9.151042.11127@Think.COM> <1990Nov12.140406.119@cs.utk.edu>

In article <1990Nov12.140406.119@cs.utk.edu> news@cs.utk.edu (USENET News 
System) writes:
> As a (government) user of CLIPS, I believe that CLIPS is technically
> *NOT* in the public domain, as it is distributed by either NAS/JSC in
> Houston or COSMIC, as the previous posting said.

Whether it's actually in the public domain is arguable, but it  is
definitely not copyrighted (take a close look through your disks and
documentation) nor licensed. 

In article <1990Nov12.140406.119@cs.utk.edu> news@cs.utk.edu (USENET News 
System) writes:
>  We are *NOT* permitted
> to distribute CLIPS code "willy-nilly" to our non-government
> contractors.  For non-gov't users, the $300.00 fee to COSMIC buys the
> source code for the system, and permits the user to use/alter it as
> s/he sees fit. 

The only restrictions listed in the documentation is that copies supplied
to the US Gov't (such as myself here at NASA GSFC) can only be RE-
distributed for US Gov't work.  This means that contractors working
for the gov't are covered, so I can willy-nilly distribute this code to
my contractors.  The note goes on to say that "for non-government work
you must buy CLIPS from COSMIC ..."

In article <1990Nov12.140406.119@cs.utk.edu> news@cs.utk.edu (USENET News 
System) writes:
> The user can also distribute *finished products*, but
> not the source or the entire shell, as I understand the arrangements.
> Hence, no FTP-ing, I think.

continuing from my quote above "... in which case you can do WHATEVER YOU
WANT WITH IT."   Sounds pretty unrestricted to me.

I would however strongly advocate buying the program through COSMIC,
because this is easiest way of getting a good set of documentation and 
up-to-
date software.   Even more importantly, the purchase supports continued
development of CLIPS (at least indirectly).   CLIPS is under constant 
development at NASA/JSC and now boasts its own annual conference.

-------------------------------
Robert Dominy
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center