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From: mjranum@gouldsd.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix,comp.mail.uucp,comp.sources.d
Subject: uucp source copyright status - IMPORTANT
Message-ID: <480@gouldsd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Mar-87 08:37:47 EST
Article-I.D.: gouldsd.480
Posted: Fri Mar 20 08:37:47 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Mar-87 16:20:33 EST
Organization: Gould Electronics, Landover MD.
Lines: 47
Keywords: no copyright notices in all the uucp source I've ever seen.
Xref: utgpu comp.os.minix:429 comp.mail.uucp:329 comp.sources.d:472


	The other day I happened upon something QUITE interesting that I
think might spark some discussion. (We have a source license here for Sun
UNIX, so don't bother having your lawyers call me). Anyhow, I noticed that
THE SOURCE FOR UUCP HAS NO COPYRIGHT NOTICES IN IT except for in some of
the more recent utilities such as uuencode and uudecode. 

	"Hmmm.... very funny, thinks I..."
	
	I called one of my friends who has source license for a dual-port
OS, including AT&T source and BSD, and asked him the same question. Same
answer. Noplace (unless grep is broken) were the magic words 'copyright' to
be found. (again, except for the newer tools). uucico, uuxqt, and all those
goodies were dated but not copyrighted. In fact, I took a look at some old
old hardcopy another fellow I know has, and there were no copyright notices
in version 7 either.

	I contacted the offices of AT&T (the email address fcp@alice) that
was given by the fellow from the licensing dept during the recent 'public
domain yacc' scandal. I asked them what the deal is. I got a note saying
that "we'll get back in touch with you". My questions are as follows, and 
I invite all comments and answers from the net:

1) what *REALLY* is the copyright status of uucp ?
2) regardless of the answer to the above, what does a total lack of
	copyright notices mean ?
3) can someone be held legally at fault for, in all good faith, assuming 
	that the global abscence of copyright information indicates that
	the code is public-domain, and (for example) posting it to the net ?

	The last comment there is playing the devil's advocate, but I think
you see my point. Those of us who frequent the grey areas of bulletin boards
know all to well the *REAL* status of anything that doesn't carry a copyright
notice. Why is uucp different other than the fact that AT&T's lawyers outnumber
the populace of Lichtenstien ?

	I invite discussion of this, and encourage those of you who have 
source licenses to check your sources and let me know what you find.

"Quick, Jeeves, my asbestos underwear !!"

--mjr();


-- 
"It is better to shred the bugger than to bugger the shredder."
					-ancient doltic proverb.