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From: thomps@gitpyr.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: Public Domain (?) Yacc (Important) [I TOLD the NET SO!!]
Message-ID: <3056@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>
Date: Sat, 7-Feb-87 16:08:28 EST
Article-I.D.: gitpyr.3056
Posted: Sat Feb  7 16:08:28 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Feb-87 07:42:58 EST
References: <142@ems.UUCP> <464@yetti.UUCP> <1186@husc6.UUCP>
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 38

In article <1186@husc6.UUCP>, ddl@husc6.UUCP (Dan Lanciani) writes:
> 
> > 	Therefore, in order to preserve the legal integrity of the net, *it is
> > 	crucial that this YACC be gotten rid of*, unless you enjoy risking
> > 	your company, yourself and the net..
> 
> 	The legal "integrity" of the net???  That must be the responsibility
> to protect AT&T's interests.  Can't AT&T do that by itself?
Those of us who would like to see the net continue to exist need to 
protect the legal integrity of the net. If AT&T decided to legally 
challenge a number of major backbone sites the net might quickly cease
to exist. Most would probably simply drop the net like  hot potato.
> 
>They have not taken steps to protect that status.  And if
> anyone has the means to take such steps, surely AT&T does.  Maybe the company
> that sells yacc and lex knows something we don't.  Maybe they know that
> yacc has become public domain.  Maybe all of unix has become public domain
> and everyone is afraid to admit it :-)

On what basis to you state that they have not taken steps to protect it.
Just because someone mahages to rip off proprietary data does not mean
that the company now loses all rights to the proprietary data. In fact,
I believe that any entity which knowingly makes use of such data is
subject to potential legal and civil penalties. I seem to recall some
Japanese companies settling out of court with IBM for a significant
amount of money based on theft of proprietary information. 

Remember that proprietary information is most often lost through employee
theft. 

Finally, you cannot make a program public domain by placing in the public 
domain if you don't have a legal right to do so. 

-- 
Ken Thompson  Phone : (404) 894-7089
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
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