Xref: utzoo comp.unix.questions:27805 gnu.misc.discuss:2164
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!uunet!gsm001!gsm
From: gsm@gsm001.uucp (Geoffrey S. Mendelson)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions,gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Re: Use of BSD 4.3 source
Message-ID: <1991Jan3.165855.21113@gsm001.uucp>
Date: 3 Jan 91 16:58:55 GMT
References: <1991Jan3.050048.5153@mel.dit.csiro.au>
Organization: Geoffrey S. Mendelson -- Software Consulting
Lines: 34


In: <1991Jan3.050048.5153@mel.dit.csiro.au>

Robert Smart

>I understand that Berkeley intend to make the parts of BSD which are not
>based on AT&T code freely redistributable. 

The original Berkeley code was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense
which makes it owned by the "United States of America" which makes it
public domain.

The later stuff was funded by the State of California which also makes it
public domain.

This includes modifications to AT&T source code, but not the AT&T code itself.

Therefore programs that were written at Berkeley such as BIFF, the BSD NROFF,
etc. are clearly public domain even if there are no comments to that effect.

I am not a laywer, this is not legal advice, only a systems programer's
opinion.

If you are truely concered, ask an atourney that specializes in software law.

This is especially important as U.S. copyright law is VERY different than
anyone else's. 

Since there are no copyrights in the Soviet Union, maybe you could
ftp a copy from MOSCVAX. 
-- 
Geoffrey S. Mendelson
(215) 242-8712
uunet!gsm001!gsm