Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!think!ames!lll-tis!ptsfa!ihnp4!homxb!houdi!marty1
From: marty1@houdi.UUCP (M.BRILLIANT)
Newsgroups: comp.arch,comp.unix.wizards,comp.os.misc
Subject: Re: Who owns Unix(tm)?...
Message-ID: <1272@houdi.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Aug-87 10:36:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: houdi.1272
Posted: Mon Aug 24 10:36:07 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Aug-87 04:01:19 EDT
References: <1665@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM> <8381@utzoo.UUCP> <797@Pescadero.ARPA> <2232@xanth.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 35
Keywords: stockholder ownership private enterprise
Summary: "Regulated monopoly" != "Public ownership"
Xref: mnetor comp.arch:1898 comp.unix.wizards:3862 comp.os.misc:97

In article <2232@xanth.UUCP>, kent@xanth.UUCP writes:
[ long list of references ]
> ....
> .... the gall of AT&T
> claiming to "own" Unix(tm) really gets to me.  At the time Unix was
> developed, WITH SUBSCRIBER FUNDS, AT&T was a regulated monopoly,
> specifically prohibited from being in the computer business.... an
> awfully good case could be made that the customers, NOT Ma Bell, own
> Unix.  Considering the AT&T customer base, that is pretty much the
> mortal equivalent of public domain.

There have been some replies to this, but I want to get down to basics.

Regulated monopoly is a special arrangement between a private
enterprise and the public.  Its purpose is to gain the efficiencies of
a single supplier, without allowing the supplier to restrict output and
charge monopoly prices, and without establishing a government
enterprise.  A private enterprise is granted an exclusive franchise and
regulated so that it can not charge monopoly prices.

A private enterprise operating as a regulated monopoly is not a public
enterprise, but an alternative to public enterprise.  It is is owned by
stockholders who are financially responsible for its mistakes and
entitled to the rewards of its successes.  It is managed by its own
officers under the direction of a board appointed by its stockholders.
Its operations are restricted only by the terms of its agreements with
the governments and agencies that regulate it.  Any inference that its
assets are owned by anyone but its stockholders is purely imaginary.

Disclaimer:  I usually omit disclaimers, but that's the nicest thing I
ever said publicly about my employer, and my employer may disagree.

M. B. Brilliant					Marty
AT&T-BL HO 3D-520	(201)-949-1858
Holmdel, NJ 07733	ihnp4!houdi!marty1