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Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!seismo!sundc!gouldsd!mjranum
From: mjranum@gouldsd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sources
Subject: Re: Public domain software proclamation
Message-ID: <489@gouldsd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-Apr-87 08:28:35 EST
Article-I.D.: gouldsd.489
Posted: Mon Apr 13 08:28:35 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Apr-87 23:59:36 EST
References: <197@twg-ap.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Gould Electronics, Landover MD.
Lines: 35
Keywords: PD software
Summary: a modest proposal...

In article <197@twg-ap.UUCP>, narayan@twg-ap.UUCP (Narayan Mohanram) writes:

> Recently I have noticed people posting software (such as /bin/true),
> and proclaiming it is in public domain (there was one such posting
> recently from someone in AT&T). Most people I know have signed
> agreements with the companies that they work for, which claim
> ownership of any inventions, ideas, and such as long as they are
> conceived while the person still works for the company. I would
> be wary of picking up such software, which is proclaimed to be
> in public domain without first checking carefully about the legal
> ramifications involved. [...]

	Yeah ? And where is YOUR corporate notice in your posting ? If you
have used someone else's computer to post to the net, there is a good
chance they own your posting. Assuming you'd said anything valuable, 
you might be in for HUGE damages. 

	Am I the only person out here who thinks this whole resurgence of
legalistic weenieism is hurting the unix community at large ? I
*KNOW* it protects the company's interests, and makes it profitable 
for them, but I can't help but wonder if little more anarchy would do
some good. Anyone out there interested in becoming a software terrorist ?
If we fight this absurd nonsense it may stop. For the next 3 years, maybe
you should give every scrap of paper you make a mark on to the comapany.
It's proprietary writing. Don't you guys out there realize that this is
only going to get worse ?!!?  The current tax law and the unconstitutional
implementation of it is a result of just such kowtowing to anyone who
smacks of authority. 
	
	"let's kill the mother before it gets HEAVY"
-- 
Copyright, 1987 -  Anarchist Software Foundation - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
In reproducing this document in any form, the licensee (you) agrees to
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subject better left for lawyers and slimy nerds.    Live Free or die !