Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!snorkelwacker!apple!sun-barr!newstop!sun!imagen!atari!apratt
From: apratt@atari.UUCP (Allan Pratt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: I need TOS on disk!  Help me!
Message-ID: <2053@atari.UUCP>
Date: 26 Feb 90 18:54:37 GMT
References: <74.25e5cebf@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu>
Organization: Atari Corp., Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 27

v128ll9e@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu writes:

>I need a copy of the latest version of TOS for the Atari ST, on disk.
>[...]
>P.S.  Boy am I desperate!!!  Golly, I'm so desperate that no offer will be
>refused outright.

What you are asking is at worst unlawful and at best a violation of 
nondisclosure agreements between Atari and its developers.  TOS-on-disk
is not copy-protected, but it certainly is copyRIGHT protected. It is
further protected as a trade secret.  It was only available to
developers, and they're all (nominally) bound by a nondisclosure
agreement with Atari.  (It goes both ways: Atari doesn't sell or
otherwise divulge THEIR work-in-progress, either.)

I guess there's no harm in buying an ORIGINAL RAM TOS disk (circa
1985), as long as the seller doesn't keep a copy for him/herself.  That
was a product for sale, and I don't think it was covered by any license
agreement, certainly not one saying you couldn't resell it.

I'm not giving legal opinions, only guesses.  I don't speak for Atari.
(Well, on RARE occasions I try to, but it almost always ends in
disaster.)

============================================
Opinions expressed above do not necessarily	-- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp.
reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else.	  ...ames!atari!apratt