Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!decvax!decwrl!sun!calma!radzy!unet!billp
From: billp@unet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sources
Subject: Re: Public domain software proclamation
Message-ID: <435@unet.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Apr-87 15:03:15 EST
Article-I.D.: unet.435
Posted: Thu Apr 16 15:03:15 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Apr-87 05:53:28 EST
References: <197@twg-ap.UUCP> <5513@shemp.UCLA.EDU> <5757@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Reply-To: billp@unet.UUCP (Bill Putney)
Distribution: na
Organization: Network Equipment Technologies, Redwood City, CA
Lines: 29

For what it's worth... I have been asked to sign one of these agreements
at every place I've ever worked.  I've always edited the agreement to
be more reasonable.  The one time I got any comment about "changing the
standard agreement" I pointed out that the items I changed were an illegal
infringment on my rights.  The response was "Well, we know that we're
writing a new one."

They also tried "Well, if it's illegal just sign it anyway."  Needless
to say that is a bad idea.  I told them I'd be glad to sign the new
one when they had it prepared, if it was reasonable.  They said fine.
I worked at that company six years, they never changed the agreement.

A little common sense goes a long way.  If I worked for AT&T and posted
a design for a public domain telephone I'd have to be a little worried.
If I worked for See's candy company and posted the same article I think
a See's legal dept. person that wrote me a flame about my posting would
be a little off base.

*Today's Sermon*  It is the social responsibility of people who have 
knowledge to share it.  If people stop sharing information, progress stops.
No one person or group can know enough to make a real breakthrough without
all the information that came before.  Life isn't long enough to discover
everything for yourself.  A company that takes on the responsibility of
holding knowledge as property also has the responsibility to make use of the
information.  In short they shouldn't be allowed to sit on it because they
think they own it.  If See's tells me I can't post my design for the phone
they better be ready to start manufacturing phones.

Bill Putney