Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!agate!ucbvax!ukmug.uk.mugnet.org!jonathan
From: jonathan@ukmug.uk.mugnet.org (Jonathan Allen)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Copyrights (lost original posting)
Message-ID: <910521.AA0958@ukmug.uk.mugnet.org>
Date: 21 May 91 14:59:40 GMT
Article-I.D.: ukmug.910521.AA0958
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: Jonathan Allen <jonathan@ukmug.uk.mugnet.org>
Organization: MINIX User Group UK (UKMUG)
Lines: 42

In a message which someone sent me, Andy Tannenbaum wrote:
> I would be quite happy to see some other organization, such as the MINIX
> Centre in the U.K. make up  a supplementary package with extra programs.
> This could be available by FTP from archives, be sold on diskette to people
> or something else that was suitable to all parties.

I am not happy with this.  The MINIX Centre already offer a paper listing
and floppy distribution service in the UK for ordinary Usenet postings,
and it could work as a natural extention to that, but only if at COST.
A lot of people already object to paying money for Usenet stuff, on the
grounds that it is supposed to be a no-fee-to-read medium.

Also, this suggestion discriminates against the very people it is meant for.
Outside of those living and/or working in academia, next to no-one has
the necessary connections for FTP.  I have e-mail, Usenet read/post, but
no Internet access for FTP - neither would many ordinary MINIX hobbyists
(at least in Europe).

> What is not ok is to have the supplementary package contain the kernel, FS,
> MM, or other copyrighted code, neither in source or in binary form.  Thus
> the supplementary package has to remain a supplement, and not become an
> alternative to the PH version.  PH's lawyers won't accept that.  Saying that
> you wil only distribute to people who have a PH version has a low credibility.

Funny, even Borland (to mention but one of the major international software
vendors) do this.  When an upgrade is announced, you simply telephone
customer services, quote your serial number and get the upgrade for less
than a third of the normal retail price.  Lotus did the same when Rel 3 of
1-2-3 came out - I sent in my distribution 'system disc' and they took that
as proof of purchase and sent out the cheap upgrade.

> For this reason, NLMUG is perhaps not the ideal organization, since they are
> currently in "discussion" with PH's lawyers about various subjects of mutual
> interest.

On the contrary, people such as NLMUG are the best people to do it.  Ordinary
PH people would have the wool pulled over their eyes too easily in
demonstrating proof of ownership (unless done in the most tedious way), while
the NLMUG (and other national groups) can almost instantly tell whether someone
wanting the extra stuff already has the standard material.

Jonathan