Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!caen.engin.umich.edu!swerling
From: swerling@caen.engin.umich.edu (Ace Swerling)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: NeXT source code...
Message-ID: <413c9e5f.17b76@puffin.engin.umich.edu>
Date: 2 Feb 89 18:28:00 GMT
References: <7565@potomac.ads.com> <18068@glacier.STANFORD.EDU>
Reply-To: swerling@caen.engin.umich.edu (Ace Swerling)
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering
Lines: 19

In hearing all this stuff about NeXT source code, I was reminded of the little
episode with the NeXT browser on the Mac.  For those of you who don't know
about it, a programmer in  the SF Bay area ported the Browser to the Mac and
posted a limited version to the BMUG BBS.  Steve Jobs called the guy a few
days later and told him to can it.  He said that if any company tries to copy
the interface at some future time, he needs to be protected legally and that
means that there can't be some unauthorized program running around.  I guess
this also applies to source.  Steve wants to protect his legal rights and if
he releases the code, he won't have any rights as far as look and feel go.
Actually, I wrote him a note about the program and suggested that he give the
guy rights to distribute it or have NeXT distribute it as a NeXT product.  He
blew me off, (said thanks for the idea) but I guess that shows he's not
interested indoing anything that might remotely compromise his legal position.

Disclaimer: I'm only a student here and who's interested in a student's opinion
anyway?

-Ace                         swerling@caen.engin.umich.edu