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From: oz@yetti.UUCP (Ozan Yigit)
Newsgroups: net.lang,net.legal
Subject: Re: lex and yacc in the public domain (while you debate..)
Message-ID: <359@yetti.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Apr-86 05:42:32 EST
Article-I.D.: yetti.359
Posted: Fri Apr 18 05:42:32 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 18-Apr-86 11:04:13 EST
References: <481@batcomputer.TN.CORNELL.EDU> <518@looking.UUCP> <864@watdragon.UUCP> <523@looking.UUCP>
Reply-To: oz@yetti.UUCP (Ozan Yigit)
Organization: York University Computer Science
Lines: 49
Xref: utcs net.lang:2321 net.legal:3251
Summary: 

In article <523@looking.UUCP> brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) writes:
>You should complete your quote of the GNU philosophy:
>>"Hey, it's free for everyone.. do what you like".
>"and also do what you like with Mr. Templeton's stuff too!"

	I do not see any software you wrote as a part of GNU
	distribution. Perhaps they do not want to do *anything*
	with Mr. Templeton's stuff.

	While this bizzarre discussion continues, someone in the crowd
	opens up the latest Dr. DOBB'S journal, and guess what !!!
	SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY SELLING YACC AND LEX !! And for 50$, you get
	the sources as well !!

	I did get a copy of this Yacc from a friend who ordered it. 
	[We have source license, so it is in safe hands!!]
	It turns out that it is the *real* Unix Yacc, as it appeared
	on an RSX-11 DECUS tape many years ago. [I do not know how
	it made it into a DECUS tape..]

	Thus:	[a] This guy knows something we don't. Since it is 
		    being sold for quite while now, and AT&T did not
		    take any action against DECUS or him, it is a very
		    likely possibility.

		[b] He doesn't know what he is doing. AT&T will probably
		    sue his pants off, and win the day. But of course,
		    by the time this happens, everyone will be using
		    bison, and will actually get to see the great
		    secret behind a LALR parser generator. AT&T will
		    change its mind, and release YACC & LEX to public-
		    domain, just to compete with GNU. :-)

		[c] He knows what he is doing. AT&T lawyers will be
		    very dissapointed for losing a lawsuit due to
		    a little-used clause somewhere in the lawbooks.
		    [something about a copyrighted something or another
		    being distributed without permission, and since no
		    action is taken in the last two years, copyright
		    becoming null-and-void]

	And the debate continues...

	oZ
-- 
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	FREE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION vs. EMPIRE. Watch for
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