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From: jpn@teddy.UUCP (John P. Nelson)
Newsgroups: net.emacs
Subject: Re: distributing gnu - (bison copyrights)
Message-ID: <2657@teddy.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 23-May-86 12:20:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: teddy.2657
Posted: Fri May 23 12:20:38 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 25-May-86 11:57:51 EDT
References: <8605202356.AA12789@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> <13912@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Reply-To: jpn@teddy.UUCP (John P. Nelson)
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 22

>If you generate a C program with GNU Bison that includes RMS's parser,
>you have the option of distributing it, under certain terms designed
>to encourage maximal cooperation with other programmers.  If you use
>Unix Yacc, with the parser written by AT&T, you could not distribute
>the resulting C program AT ALL.  Why are you complaining?

I'm not complaining.  I just said that I couldn't use bison because of
it's restrictions.

By the way, I had heard that AT&T had relinquished the rights to programs
generated by yacc.  Does anyone have the facts?

In any case, I just obtained a copy of yacc from the "Austin Code Works"
(you can find their ads in Dr. Dobbs, or Computer Language).  For ~$20
with source code and documentation.  This looks an awful lot like the
UNIX yacc, but it has "DECUS" sprinkled throughout the comments.  They
make no claim on the generated source code.


Bottom line, I would much rather spend 20 dollars for a program that I am
free to use as I wish, than for a "free" program that I am restricted to use on
projects that are "public-spirited".