Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!cbmvax!grr
From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: Re: Public Domain Netnews...
Message-ID: <1428@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Feb-87 00:38:11 EST
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.1428
Posted: Wed Feb 18 00:38:11 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Feb-87 06:37:21 EST
References: <1312@hplabsc.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 35

In article <1312@hplabsc.UUCP> taylor@hplabsc.UUCP (Dave Taylor) writes:
>While recently perusing the latest version of netnews, 2.11, from
>Rick Adams, I noticed that it is now copyrighted by him.  This is
>a cause for concern for various reasons, not the least of which is that
>we suddenly have a piece of software that everyone is running and is
>freely distributed (but not public domain) that is legally owned by
>an individual.

Whoa!

Rick copyrighted copyrighted the version of netnews that he updated and
helped debug and test.  You may not agree with this, but you are free
to take earlier versions and create your own 2.11 version.  Or perhaps
examine the details of the copyright and distribution provisions.

Rick has been distributing, for the cost of mailing, updated, patched
versions of news 2.10.x, 2.11 and other useful software for quite a
while and has never suggested that anybody should have to pay for any
of it.

Rick has also been lending support to *TWO* version of news that would
replace B news altogether, neither of which would particulary have to
carry his copyright.

Please note that while Public Domain and Freely Distributed software
are not the same thing, they can serve similar purposes depending on
the practices of the copyright holder.

Truly Public Domain software is kinda like a virgin, subject to status
change at any moment.  Freely redistributable software has been around
a bit and picked up a bit of protection...
-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@seismo.css.GOV
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)