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From: akcs.azz710@hpcvbbs.UUCP (Jeffrey R. Broido)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Copyright
Message-ID: <2756e334:1291.1comp.sys.handhelds;1@hpcvbbs.UUCP>
Date: 30 Nov 90 23:40:10 GMT
References: <9011291937.AA12506@vuse.vanderbilt.edu>
Lines: 13

I wrote a program in '84 for IBM mainframes running MVS/XA.  I included
copyright notices in the source and object code and sent it to a widely
distributed public domain software collection (CBT's MVS Mods
collection).  My copyright noticed retained all rights except the right
was granted to freely use and distribute as long as it remained free (the
standard sort of thing).  It was lifted by a large software house (Boole
and Babbage) and included in an expensive ($50,000 plus maintenance)
utility collection ("Resolve").  They removed my copyright notice and
substituted one of their own.  I had never registered my copyright, but
still had some of my five years left and could have.  I didn't act since
they have a large legal staff and was advised against taking the time and
bother, but I've been smarting over it ever since.  I like best your last
idea.  Jeff