Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!husc6!cfa!ward
From: ward@cfa.harvard.EDU (Steve Ward)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Small C for IBM PC?
Summary: Small-C is still redistributable
	 You can give away copies of Small-C
Message-ID: <1450@cfa.cfa.harvard.EDU>
Date: 26 Mar 89 20:38:28 GMT
References: <276@donk.UUCP> <1302@hounx.ATT.COM>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian
Lines: 35



I have the latest Small-C from J. Hendrix.  As I read the copyright
notice and redistribution restrictions, here is my understanding:
(read it yourself to reach your conclusions, but it all seems
pretty clear to me)

The Small-C modified and authored by J. Hendrix is copyrighted by him.
The software can be given away, but not sold.  There are no royalty
or use restrictions on its output (executables generated).  The intent
seems to be to share the software source code freely, but strictly for
free, while programmers are unhindered in using the generated binaries
as they see fit.

J. Hendrix encourages registration of holders of the source code.  This
costs a small fee for which the registered holder of the source code
will be placed on a mailing list and notified of new versions and
updates, though no maintenance support service is implied here.  This
arrangement seems reasonable as there is some cost associated with
mailing lists and notifications of updates, and the registration fee
is small.  Registration certainly appears to an option, that is, it is
not a license fee in payment for a right to use the software, but a
registration fee for a specific, though limited, service.

I am not going to claim that this is correct according to the intentions
and will of J. Hendrix, but that is my personal understanding after
reading through the relevant words in the source code in my possession.

Let me point out that J. Hendrix has a pretty nice book about Small-c
titled "A Small C Compiler: Language, Usage, Theory, and Design."
You can get with it either the CP/M or the MSDOS Small-C source code
and registration is automatic.  I recommend the book to those who
want to use or just play with Small-C.

ward@cfa.harvard.edu